Simeone v two reporters over Pubill handball: «Did Musso save all match?» | OneFootball

The striker was one of Atleti’s standout players in the 2-0 Champions League win, but he ended up shouting in the mixed zone. “Did you even watch the match?” he fired back at reporters who pressed him about a controversial handball by Pubill inside the box.

The incident that blew everything up came 10 minutes into the second half: Musso touched the ball on a goal kick and Marc Pubill picked it up with his hand inside the area to set it down. Referee Istvan Kovacs ruled that play had not restarted, but for Barça it was a penalty as clear as day.

In the mixed zone, Giuliano did not like being asked to explain the result because of that play at all, and he had an ugly clash with reporters. “He picked up the ball to take it. Juan (Musso) never took them all game, we always restart with the defenders”, he said, fiercely defending his teammate. “Did you even watch the match or not?” he snapped before walking away, fed up with the repeated claims that the referee had favored them.

For his part, Juan Musso also stood his ground and asked people not to downplay the team’s work: “The referee judged that no advantage was gained. Talking so much about this means not wanting to see the great match we played,” said the national team goalkeeper.

That was not the end of it. Barcelona has already filed a formal complaint with UEFA, claiming the officiating went against the rules and that the penalty should have been awarded. With this atmosphere of suspicion and accusations flying both ways, the return leg in Madrid promises to be a real pressure cooker.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.