Raphinha remained fixated on the first leg as he vented his frustration. “One mistake in a match can happen, but two in a row? I can’t comprehend it. I’d like to understand why referees seem afraid of Barcelona winning,” the Brazilian snapped, having been forced to watch both games from the sidelines.
In last week’s 2-0 home defeat in the first leg, Barca had been denied a potential penalty. In the 54th minute, Atlético goalkeeper Juan Musso appeared to have already taken a goal kick, which defender Marc Pubill controlled with his hand inside the six-yard box before restarting play with another goal kick.
Barça immediately appealed for handball and a penalty, yet referee Istvan Kovacs allowed play to continue. One explanation is that, since the ball had not fully left the six-yard box when Musso played it, the officials may not have considered the initial action a valid goal kick.
“The goalkeeper plays it to him, he touches it with his hand. Come on, that’s crystal clear. I have no idea why the VAR didn’t intervene. I don’t understand it,” Barcelona manager Hansi Flick toldDAZN after the game.