VAR Issues and New Records in the Spanish Super Cup Semifinals

DBasia.news –  The Spanish Super Cup semifinal match between Barcelona and Atletico, Friday (10/1) AM, was won by Atletico with a score of 3-2. The match was filled with drama of the use of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) and also the emergence of a new record for Barcelona players.

The game went excitingly. Barcelona, ​​as usual, dominated possessions and Atletico closed in the defense and aimed for a counter-attack. Barca dominated 73 percent possessions of the ball compared to 27 percent of Atletico.

However, Atletico played efficiently with a six-shot attempt and all were on target. Three of the goals were scored by Koke (46 ‘), Alvaro Morata (81’ penalty), and Angel Correa (86 ‘).

While from 16 Barcelona kick attempts, nine were on target, only two of which resulted in goals when Lionel Messi (51 ‘) and former Atletico Madrid striker, Antoine Griezmann scored (62’).

Barca had originally scored two additional goals from Messi and Gerard Pique’s goals, but both goals were disallowed as Messi did a handball and Pique after Arturo Vidal, the operand provider, was first offside.

Atletico’s penalty request when Pique did a handball was ignored by the referee despite the VAR technology in the match. The use of the controversial VAR throughout this season (especially in the Premier League) continues.

Antoine Griezmann, Luis Suarez, and Ernesto Valverde also commented on the VAR. The three of them tried diplomatically to answer the media crew’s questions regarding the VAR.

“VAR is here to help football and sometimes it helps you, sometimes it’s against you, that’s how it is,” Griezmann said, as quoted by Sport-English.

“Observing the picture through the monitor, I think Arturo Vidal was not offside. It is challenging to have a perfect line between two players. VAR should be fairer,” Valverde added.

“That (VAR) changes your mood. Such actions can only be seen in VAR. The referee can be wrong, he is a normal human being and you have to get used to it,” said Suarez.

In addition to the VAR drama, the match against Atletico was also special for the 17-year-old La Masia academy product, Ansu Fati. He became the youngest player to play his debut in the Spanish Super Cup at the age of 17 years 70 days.

A special record that beat Nano who played at the age of 17 years 117 days in 1999. Ansu Fati entered in the 89th minute replacing Frenkie de Jong and practically was unable to do much to change the match, as Atletico had locked victory 3-2.

Ansu Fati’s phenomenon has continued to occur throughout the 2019-20 season. Not only did he play the youngest debut in the Spanish Super Cup, he also became the youngest player to score and provide an assist in a LaLiga match, the youngest for Barcelona in the Champions League and scored, one of which was when his goal eliminated Inter Milan in the group stage.