A few days before the quarter-final of the Champions League, Atlético de Madrid and FC Barcelona met at the Metropolitano for a shock at the top in La Liga. A poster finally won by the Catalans (1-2), but also marked by refereeing decisions which weighed on the appearance of the meeting. Already reduced to ten just before the break after the expulsion of Nico González, the Colchoneros played the entire second half outnumbered, in a match where every intervention by the referee was scrutinized.
Upon returning from the locker room, the controversy intensified. Gerard Martín in turn thought about leaving his partners at ten after a strong tackle on Thiago Almada. Initially excluded, the Blaugrana defender finally saw his sanction revised after intervention by the VAR: the referee considered that he first touched the ball before contact, transforming the red card into a simple warning (47th). A decision which caused incomprehension on the Madrid side.
Gerard Martin’s red at the center of attention
This sequence crystallized the tensions at the final whistle. Diego Simeone preferred to avoid the subject, while slipping in a few barbs: “ I prefer not to revisit the action that led to the expulsion. We lost 2-1, it doesn’t matter what we say… During the Rayo-Betis match, they wanted to explain that such an action deserved a red card. When an action is this obvious, there’s no need to even talk about it. (…) Nico’s action, in that he arrived late, deserved at least a yellow card. Then we tell you it could be offside and we want to hang on to that, but the action was clear. I don’t think it’s a direct red card, but a second yellow card. » Same frustration for his goalkeeper, Juan Musso, who pointed out a turning point in the match for DAZN Spain : “ the red card penalized us and it’s very difficult at 10 against 11. I also think that there was a red card for them, the referee clearly saw it on the pitch. It could have made the match more balanced. But hey, we must continue. It doesn’t take away our confidence. At 11 against 11, I think we were better. It gives us confidence. »
On its social networks, the colchonero club gave it another layer by comparing a photo of Martin’s fault with a similar action which had not been reviewed by the VAR during Real Betis-Rayo Vallecano, on February 2. On the Barcelona side, the speech is obviously more measured. Hansi Flick defended Mr Busquets Ferrer’s decision regarding his player: “ I didn’t see Gérard’s action on my screen. Live, he touches the ball first, for me it’s not a red card. » Identical reading for Dani Olmo, who put the intensity of the contact into perspective: “ he touches the ball first, it is inertia that causes the contact. I don’t think that’s enough for a red card. » A divergence of interpretation which is already fueling the debates a few days before the European clash between the two teams.
