In 'El Clásico', Barcelona defeated Real Madrid, but the controversy over the referee's decisions continues.
Barcelona achieved a thrilling comeback victory over Real Madrid with a score of 4-3 in the home match of the 35th round of the 2024-2025 Spanish Primera Liga, held on the 11th (Korea time) at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in Barcelona, Spain.
Barcelona took the lead with consecutive goals from Kylian Mbappé in the 5th and 14th minutes. However, Barcelona, which succeeded in a consolation goal by Eric García in the 19th minute, turned the tables with equalizer from Lamine Yamal in the 32nd minute and two goals from Raphinha in the 34th and 45th minutes.
Barcelona allowed Mbappé to score a hat trick in the 70th minute, which brought Real Madrid back within a goal, but they managed to hold on to the one-point lead until the end. Ultimately, Barcelona achieved the remarkable feat of winning all four meetings against Real this season.
With this victory, Barcelona accumulated 82 points (26 wins, 4 draws, 5 losses) and is leading La Liga. They extended the gap to 7 points ahead of second-placed Real Madrid (75 points) and are on the verge of winning La Liga.
However, the controversy over the referee left a bitter taste despite the victory. In particular, the decisions made by referee Alejandro Hernández Hernández drew complaints from Barcelona and its fans.
In the 80th minute, a scene occurred where Ferran Torres' right-footed volley shot in the box hit Aurélien Tchouaméni's hand. However, referee Hernández did not award a penalty kick despite a video review (VAR).
The situation was different during injury time when Fermín López scored a decisive goal. The ball hit Federico Valverde's left arm before López's shot. The referee pointed out López's handball foul through VAR, canceling the score.
However, during the VAR room review process, an unbelievable comment was made. Someone said, "Thank goodness." This statement cast doubt on the fairness of the VAR official.
According to Spain's 'Sport' on the 12th, Barcelona feels that fair competition in La Liga is difficult due to this decision. They suspect that Real Madrid is pressuring the referees.
The media noted that rumors are circulating that referee Hernández met with Real Madrid officials 48 hours before the match, amplifying suspicions while emphasizing that Barcelona has taken a step closer to winning La Liga, but the controversy over referee decisions will continue.
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