FC Barcelona clinched a narrow 1-0 win against UD Las Palmas, yet the game stirred controversy, mainly due to VAR’s involvement.
In the first half, Raphinha’s goal was disallowed due to a debatable offside call. However, Raphinha redeemed himself in the second half, scoring the decisive goal that sealed Barcelona’s victory.
The win against UD Las Palmas was hard-earned, marked by Barcelona’s struggles to convert scoring chances and the VAR’s interference.
Despite creating numerous opportunities, Barcelona’s forwards found it challenging to score. Moreover, controversy arose when Raphinha’s goal was nullified in the 19th minute due to a VAR-assisted offside decision.
The contentious call originated from Raphinha’s slight offside position at the start of the attacking move, triggered by a pass from Robert Lewandowski.
Though Lewandowski didn’t touch the ball, the presence of another player, Saúl Coco, was deemed to have influenced Raphinha’s offside position, leading to the goal’s annulment after a VAR review.
Fortunately, Raphinha redeemed himself in the 60th minute with a header assisted by Joao Félix. Ironically, he mimicked the VAR review signal during his celebration, expressing disagreement with the earlier disallowed goal.
Despite the controversy, Raphinha remained focused on securing the victory, highlighting its importance for Barcelona’s confidence. He downplayed any connection between the match result and Xavi Hernández’s departure, attributing the win to the team’s resolve to improve.
Ultimately, Raphinha’s goal played a pivotal role in Barcelona’s win, underscoring their determination to compete for every point in the league, despite VAR’s contentious decision.
