Barcelona bemused as VAR rules out Pau Cubarsi goal after eight-minute check | OneFootball

Barcelona were denied a 4-1 lifeline when VAR cancelled Pau Cubarsi’s strike for offside after an eight-minute check at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.

According to Football Espana, the prolonged stoppage reflected poorly on Spanish football and the use of VAR, although the offside call appeared correct.

Atletico Madrid had surged 4-0 ahead by half-time. An Eric Garcia own goal opened the scoring, then Antoine Griezmann, Ademola Lookman and Julian Alvarez left the hosts in control and, arguably, with one foot in the Copa del Rey final.

On 52 minutes Barcelona thought they had pulled one back when Cubarsi finished inside the box after the ball ricocheted off Robert Lewandowski. Replays were initially inconclusive, then later images suggested he was marginally offside when it broke his way.

Had the goal stood at 4-1, Barcelona might have sensed a route back, but the lengthy check stalled their momentum as play paused for over eight minutes. Offside is a black and white decision, yet the wait for this ruling was excessively long.

Source: Football Espana