WEdnes Day could not have been worse for FC Barcelona. Losing the first leg of a Champions League knockout series is one thing, but the match against La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid poured even more salt into the wound.
A lot went wrong for Barcelona during the match. They didn’t play badly, but they couldn’t convert their chances and had to play the entire second half with just 10 men. However, in Barcelona’s eyes, Atleti should have also played with 10 men for the final 35 minutes of the game.
FC Barcelona is adamant that Marc Pouvil should have been called for handball in the box
A strange moment occurred in the 54th minute. Atlético Madrid took a goal kick, goalkeeper Juan Musso placed the ball in his hand and passed it to centre-back Marc Poubil. Poubil grabbed the ball with his hands and kicked it back to Musso.
Pubil was initially unaware that Musso had taken a goal kick and thought that the goalkeeper had passed the ball to Musso so he could kick off. Barcelona’s players noticed it right away, but the referee didn’t and neither did the VAR assistant referee.
After the match, Barcelona coach Hansi Flick was furious at the situation. He believes it should have been a penalty and a second yellow card for Pouvil. The club fully supported Flick on this matter and issued a scathing statement to UEFA after the match.
FC Barcelona understands that this decision and the lack of significant intervention by VAR is a serious mistake. The club therefore requested the opening of an investigation, access to referee communications and, where applicable, a formal acknowledgment of the mistake and the adoption of relevant measures. Along these same lines, FC Barcelona believes that this is not the first time in the recent UEFA Champions League that an incomprehensible decision by a referee has negatively affected the team, creating a clear double standard and preventing it from competing with other clubs on a level playing field.
This situation is still in flux, so it won’t be the last. Meanwhile, both teams must prepare for the return leg.
