Real Madrid are on course to snatch the La Liga title back from Barcelona.For all their success in the Champions League over the past decade, it's remarkable to think that Los Blancos have only summited the Spanish league once since Jose Mourinho's reign.However, it seems as though Zinedine Zidane has got the better of the Blaugrana at their own game and moved four points clear with victory over Alaves on Friday night. 

Real Madrid vs Alaves

It was a performance that makes it highly unlikely that Real will throw away the title with just three fixtures to play, but their latest three points on home soil didn't come easily.

You might have seen in recent weeks that Barcelona fans in particular have been bemoaning the amount of penalties that Real have been awarded as the title race has hotted up.

Zidane's men have won spot kicks against Real Sociedad, Getafe and Athletic Bilbao since the return from lockdown and plenty of supporters think some sort of conspiracy is going on.

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Real Madrid win another penalty

So imagine their surprise when Real's breakthrough against Alaves came from - you guessed it - the penalty spot with Ferland Mendy being brought to ground in the opening 10 minutes.

Whether the cynics like it or not, we're pretty sure a penalty was the right decision and Karim Benzema was on the scene to convert in the absence of regular taker Sergio Ramos.

It was a cool finish that ultimately propped Real up for victory with Marco Asensio bagging the second, but that penalty wasn't the last time that the referee came under the spotlight.

That's because Real vs Alaves marked one of those strange, rare occasions when the match official goes down injured with Gil Manzano receiving a blow to his ankle.

Ref needs treatment... from Real Madrid

The referee carried on in the short-term, but was ultimately forced to drop out at half-time with fourth official Rodriguez Caraballo coming on in his place.

However, a few eagle-eyed supporters couldn't help noticing that Manzano received treatment from the very kind and considerate Real Madrid physios and staff when the injury first presented itself.

PROOF. THE CONSPIRACY IS CONFIRMED. Yeh, nah.

But that didn't make it any less funny that supporters joked that Real were merely treating one of their own 'players' or that they were desperate to keep him on after he gave them a penalty.

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Fans see the funny side

One supporter wrote: "The ref is injured and our medical team are treating him. Why make it so obvious real madrid???"

Another penned: "Real Madrid player got injured, that's a huge blow for them especially cause is the ref."

While a third posted: "Blimey! Who are gonna Real Madrid sub in now?" 

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You just know there are going to be memes of Real staff helping an official for seasons to come now... people just love a refereeing conspiracy in Spanish football, don't they?