IIn a game in which Lamine Yamal did not stand out, João Garca emerged as FC Barcelona’s best player, despite the 2-1 defeat in La Liga against Montilivi against Girona. As a result, they lost the league lead to Real Madrid.
This game was even more important, especially since Real Madrid were in the lead in the La Liga title race, coming off the back of a heavy Copa del Rey defeat to Atlético Madrid.
Joao Garka speaks out on VAR controversy
Undeterred, the Rose goalkeeper expressed surprise that VAR did not call referee Char Soto Grado to consider a possible foul on Jules Kound during the build-up to Girona’s decisive 2-1 goal.
“It wasn’t clear live, but it was a very quick movement. But after watching the replay, for me it was a foul. Jules went to the ball first and got stepped on. Too much,” Garca told DAZN. It’s possible for the referee to make a mistake on the field, but what surprised me the most was that VAR didn’t call him. Things like this happen, we can’t control it, we just have to keep going.”
Amid the growing VAR controversy in La Liga, Galca sent a clear message to his team-mates, warning that Barcelona’s defense is “conceding goals too easily”, while admitting his saves “will not be of much use” if his side fail to pick up points in the La Liga title race.
March is shaping up to be a decisive month, with Barcelona’s Champions League and Copa del Rey hopes at risk of disappearing if they fall further behind Real Madrid or are eliminated in Europe, and the pressure on Xavi’s team will increase amid VAR controversy and defensive concerns.
