The first leg of the Champions League quarter-final tie at Old Trafford saw Barcelona start the match on a bright note against Manchester United.
A Lionel Messi-Luis Suarez combination helped the visitors get the much needed away goal in the 12th minute when the former Liverpool striker’s header hit Luke Shaw, resulting in an own goal.
The assistant referee ruled it offside, but Gianluca Rocchi overturned the decision with the help of VAR.
Thursday’s edition of Mundo Deportivo is delighted the referee used the help of technology and that proved to be crucial in deciding the outcome of the first leg.
However, the Catalan newspaper are of the belief that Chris Smalling should have been sent off, via VAR, after he collided with Lionel Messi in the first half. The report’s headline reads ‘It was red to Smalling’.
When the Argentine was trying to receive the ball on his chest, the Red Devils centre-back came from behind and won the ball and the follow-through saw Smalling’s arm smack Messi’s face.
The Barca star was left with a bloodied face and needed medical attention before returning to the pitch, and Smalling has been called ‘violent’ and ‘aggressive’ by the Catalan media today.
Mundo claim the VAR should have intervened if the referee didn’t get the full view of the incident. ‘It is specified that he must intervene in direct reds for violent conduct, as is the case. Football is a spectacle and referees must protect the stars’
It’s not just Smalling, they wanted Scott McTominay to be shown a yellow card for ‘trying to cheat by throwing himself in the area shamelessly after a contact with [Gerard] Piqué.’
Even though VAR corrected the decision in Barcelona’s favour, Mundo are unhappy with one aspect of the review system.
‘Finally, with the VAR, although it was key because it corrected the only goal of the game, I always have a bittersweet feeling. It is a pity that a player cannot celebrate a goal until the play is reviewed.’
The Mundo Deportivo report fails to mention that Sergio Busquets could have been sent off, more than once, and Jordi Alba presented his theatrics.
