Barcelona are now within touching distance of winning their 28th La Liga title after beating their arch-rivals Real Madrid in a seven-goal thriller, which finished 4-3 in favour of Hansi Flick’s men – but VAR controversy emerged after Fermin Lopez looked to have added a misery compiler in El Clasico’s dying embers.
The Catalan behemoths, once again, prevailed over Carlo Ancelotti’s star-studded squad despite Kylian Mbappe bagging a hat-trick and have now extended their lead at the summit of Spain’s top flight to seven points. Irrespective of other results, they need just two points to clinch La Liga gold.
Los Blancos went 2-0 up within 14 minutes but, by the time that the half-time whistle was blown, Flick’s side were miraculously 4-2 up. Mbappe notched his third of the afternoon with 20 minutes of regulation time left on the clock, but it wasn’t enough.
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Controversy Looms as VAR Audio Emerges
Hansi Flick's men s hould 'demand explanation’ says journalist
barcelona el clasico
However, the scoreline was almost made worse in the 95th minute after Barcelona’s Fermin Lopez – regarded as one of the best international Under-21 players – made it five. Getting the better of Federico Valverde, the youngster weaved into the Madrid box and lashed his effort past a hapless Thibaut Courtois.
The goal initially counted and Lopez, alongside Gavi and Alejandro Balde, wheeled away in utter jubilation – that was until VAR intervened to chalk the goal off, but the conversation between the referee and VAR chief, Martínez Munuera, has increased suspicions over a potentially ill-intentioned decision.
Referee Alejandro Jose Hernandez Hernandez was informed that a pitchside review of the incident was required. Lopez had handled the ball in the build-up to his goal and, intentional or not, it was ruled out after the man in black double-checked it.
While reviewing the footage, the VAR can be heard saying “thank goodness” after realising there was ball-to-hand contact by Lopez and Spanish journalist Toni Juanmarti has implored Barcelona – who recently exited the Champions League at the hands of Inter Milan – to demand an explanation.
“The VAR team says “thank goodness” when, while reviewing Fermin’s goal, they realise there was a handball by a Barca player,” the journalist wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
“It’s perfectly audible in the released audio recordings. Barca should demand an explanation.”
This was not the only moment of controversy as, just moments before, Ferran Torres was up in arms after Aurelien Tchouameni walked away unscathed following a clear handball in the box. Torres, who bagged three assists, posted the incident on Instagram after the game.