A week after their thrilling six-goal match, Barcelona and Inter Milan put on another classic Champions League performance. However, controversy erupted in the 70th minute when Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s contact with Lamine Yamal continued into the box, denying the Spanish team a penalty kick.
The two European powerhouses squared off in a resounding San Siro in another thrilling match. Simone Inzaghi’s team came out of the starting blocks and scored inside 21 minutes after Lautaro Martinez delivered the final touch.
Just before halftime, Hakan Calhanoglu extended their lead from 12 yards out, but Barcelona was a different animal in the second half. Eric Garcia and Dani Olmo both scored goals in six minutes to equal the second leg and the match. Then debate broke forth.
VAR Intervention in Barcelona vs. Inter Explained by an ESPN Rule Expert
In his explanation, the journalist highlighted the “key difference.”
With 20 minutes remaining, Barcelona appeared to have gained a breakthrough because of Yamal’s tenacity on the right side. The young sensation, as sharp as a dagger, swept by Mkhitaryan, whose outstretched leg stopped the action.
In an attempt to score a third goal, the young player, who is considered to be among the best in the world of football, darted for the Inter Milan box. The man in the middle, Szymon Marciniak, pointed to the spot after former Manchester United and Arsenal star Mkhitaryan dragged him down to end the suffering. See it below:
The first contact occurred outside the 18-yard box, but Marciniak whistled and indicated the location, much to the dissatisfaction of the home team, because there were worries that Mkhitaryan and Yamal’s altercation would continue into the danger zone.
The Polish referee, who was prompted by the VAR officials to check the pitchside monitor for confirmation of his game-changing call, chalked off the penalty kick and urged that Barcelona should be given a free kick instead.
ESPN’s rules and regulations expert provided justification for Marciniak’s decision to rescind his momentum-swinging decision on X (previously Twitter). He acknowledged that the outcome of a tackle is determined by the initial contact.
“As I stated in the VAR evaluation this week. important distinction. The first contact for a tackle results in a foul. It is not a penalty when a tackle makes more contact into the box.
Johnson, ESPN’s go-to rule expert, went one step further and asserted that a penalty would be given if Mkitaryan—or any other player, for that matter—were to pull an opponent and that proceeded into the box. “It is a penalty when holding or pulling occurs from outside and continues into the box.”
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The home crowd went into raptures after Frattesi’s winner in the 99th minute.
Barcelona, who are vying for the Champions League, was unable to capitalise on their dead-ball situation, but after a great deal of pressure, Raphinha, one of the top candidates for the coveted 2025 Ballon d’Or, sealed the victory in the 88th minute.
With only a few minutes remaining, Hansi Flick and his team appeared to have secured their place in the Champions League final. That was before Francesco Acerbi’s striker’s finish, his first goal ever on the European scene, added another story to this never-ending chapter.
After a 13-goal draw, substitute Davide Frattesi, who took Calhanoglu’s place in the 79th minute, was on hand to lead his team into the Allianz Arena in Munich for the final. It’s unclear if the Nerazzurri will win the Champions League this season.
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