VAR

VAR or no VAR, that is the question...? Actually it's not a question anymore as tonight, for the first time in the Champions League, as the competition reaches the Round of 16 stage, we´ll see the debut of the VAR system.

Last night's Copa del Rey clash was a delight to watch, a classic full blooded cup tie. Betis went two goals ahead against a Valencia side who reused to roll over ended up securing a creditable 2-2 draw.

Alfredo Relaño takes a look at how things are shaping up at the top of LaLiga, with Barcelona and Atlético dropping points and Real Madrid beating Alavés.

AS editor Alfredo Relaño analyses Real Madrid's 4-2 win over Espanoyl at Cornellà, which saw Benzema score two goals and put in a fine overall performance.

VAR has successfully corrected 59 decisions: 59 bad calls from which, were it not for the system, there'd have been no going back...

When it comes to VAR, that Luis Suárez incident against Leganés was all we needed. Images have finally emerged that show beyond any doubt...

For anyone interested in how VAR is working, I'd advise you to take time to reflect carefully on the words of Velasco Carballo, the man responsible for the system in LaLiga.

Alfredo Relaño considers the effects of the VAR system as LaLiga passes the halfway stage with voices raising concern over when it is being used.

Sunday's LaLiga action was brought to a close at the Villamarín, where Real Madrid needed a late Dani Ceballos free-kick to secure maximum points.

Let's be clear, VAR is not 100% perfect. It's a system that can spot ‘geographical’ actions from a game from a side facing camera(s) and have a decision overturned or rectified given the circumstance

Spanish referees have an expression that has been passed down to the current generation of match officials: "You're not a fully fledged ref. until you've been hit by the Real Madrid juggernaut".

Among the questionable things about the Club World Cup, which is in its final throes in its current format, its use as a testing ground for new rules is right up there...

The general feeling in Spanish football is that VAR has improved the game. Now the referee has a safety net and can view incidents more clearly, writes Alfredo Relaño.

Alfredo Relaño considered how former referee Velasco Carballo has installed a new level of transparency with a review on how VAR is working in LaLiga.