What did Barcelona coach Xavi say about the VAR controversy in Real Madrid - Almería?

After their relative recent struggles, Barcelona bounced back to form on Sunday with a fine victory away to Real Betis, albeit one they came close to throwing away. Having gone 2-0 up early in the second period, the Catalans conceded two Isco goals in four minutes, only for João Félix and hat-trick hero Ferran Torres to secure a dramatic win in injury time. Despite the result, much of the post-match talk centred around Xavi Hernández’s views on the VAR controversy that dominated Real Madrid’s comeback triumph over Almería earlier in the day.

Madrid come from 2-0 down to beat Almería 3-2

The Andalusians headed into the game at the Bernabéu having failed to win any of their first 20 LaLiga matches of the season and having collected only six points. Yet they incredibly found themselves 2-0 up at half time against Carlo Ancelotti’s side.

Los Blancos, however, are renowned for their second-half fightbacks and the latest in a long line of them was completed by Dani Carvajal’s winning strike in the ninth minute of injury time.

Controversial incidents at the Bernabéu

But plenty of controversy preceded it in the second period, with Almería feeling that had been hard done to on no fewer than three separate occasions, with referee Francisco José Hernández Maeso called by VAR Alejandro Hernández Hernández to review incidents on screen each time.

First, Jude Bellingham reduced the deficit from the penalty spot after the ball had struck Kaiky Fernandes’ hand, although the visitors were incensed neither Joselu nor Antonio Rüdiger had been penalised for climbing on the Almería defender and teammate Edgar González respectively.

Four minutes later, former Madrid player Sergio Arribas thought he had restored his team’s two-goal lead, only for a review to rule Dion Lopy had caught Bellingham with a stray hand as he turned away from him in midfield, a couple of passes before the goal was scored.

And lastly, Vinícius bundled in an equaliser midway through the second period, with serious doubt as to whether he had used his shoulder or his arm. After another check, Hernández Maeso decided it was the former, although Jaume Roures, the founder of Mediapro, the company who supply VAR images for the Spanish Soccer Federation, claimed the official had not been shown the necessary footage of the incident and that other angles would have proven the Brazilian had used his arm.

Almería head coach Gaizka Garitano was furious three decisions had initially gone for and then against his side, and was ultimately shown a red card for his protests.

Xavi: “Difficult for Barcelona to win LaLiga”

Following his team’s victory at Betis, Xavi was also asked if he had seen what had taken place a few hours earlier and said he agreed with Almería coach Garitano, who had said he was “speechless” and that he would be sanctioned if he said what he really thought, and AS journalist Alfredo Relaño, who told Spanish radio the match had caused huge damage to Real Madrid’s reputation.

He also revealed his unhappiness with officiating in the Spanish top flight this season, reminding the media of his comments on the opening day of the campaign, when he said it would be “difficult” for Barcelona to win LaLiga after they had had a late penalty taken away from them.

“I saw it. I agree with Garitano and Relaño. I already said after the game in Getafe (on the opening weekend of the season) that it was going to be difficult for us to win this league. There are people who don’t remember but I think we could have six extra points. I remember there was that penalty we didn’t get in Getafe, a stonewall penalty on Raphinha, a goal scored by João Félix in Granada (that was disallowed)…These aren’t excuses, it’s the reality. Decisions in the 95th minute that always go against us. There are 18 games to go, we need to keep working hard and see where that will take us. There are things that we can’t control, everybody has seen that today.”

After Sunday’s results, Barcelona seven points behind Real Madrid and eight adrift of surprise leaders Girona, who have played a game more.

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