Real Madrid have been awarded more penalties than any other La Liga side this season

What's the story?

La Liga giants Real Madrid have been awarded more penalties than any other side in the Spanish top flight this season.

In case you didn't know...

Los Blancos registered a controversial win over Levante in La Liga on Sunday, courtesy of two VAR-approved penalties from Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale.

The first penalty came after Luka Modric's cross hit Enis Bardhi's arms but the opposition equalized soon after the break. The game's decisive penalty was, however, awarded to Real Madrid after a Cheick Doukoure challenge on Casemiro.

The decisions leading up to the penalties have been criticized with many stating that there was minimal contact between Doukoure and Casemiro during the attempted clearance.

Dani Carvajal has, however, defended the decisions saying he "heard the kick" from 25 meters away.

He told Marca, "I was 25 meters away from the second penalty, but I could hear the kick," Carvajal said after the game."

"I'm not a referee, I don't judge the decisions; if it was given as a penalty then it was. Being a referee is difficult."

The heart of the matter

With the two penalties against Levante, Real Madrid has become the side with the most awarded penalties in La Liga with a total of eight so far (via Sport English).

The European champions are ahead of Eibar and Barcelona who have a total of seven penalties and Real Sociedad who have six.

2 - Real Madrid have earned three points or recorded a victory thanks to two goals from penalty spot for the first time at least since 2013/2014 season (in all comps). Decisive pic.twitter.com/V3S62bOW7g

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) February 24, 2019

The win takes Real Madrid nine points behind arch-rivals Barcelona, who sit at the top of the league table.

What's next?

Los Blancos happily took the three league points and will now prepare to host Barcelona in their Copa del Rey semi-final second leg on Wednesday night before locking horns again on Saturday.