In the 33rd minute of the FC Barcelona – Valencia match, Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny found himself in a precarious situation. A foul on Hugo Duro, which led to a penalty kick, seemed like an inevitable outcome. However, VAR (Video Assistant Referee) came to the rescue, saving Szczęsny from a potential third consecutive match with a conceded penalty.
The incident began with a disputed situation involving Jules Koundé, who was fouled by José Gayà on the Valencia half of the field. The referee, Cesar Soto Grado, initially pointed to the penalty spot, but after reviewing the footage on the monitor, he changed his decision and awarded Barcelona a free kick instead.
Former international referee Mateu Lahoz vehemently disagrees with Soto Grado’s decision, claiming that the referee made a mistake by intervening in the situation. „This is no longer football,” Lahoz exclaimed in an interview with Cadena COPE radio. „Those who have suffered on the pitch know how difficult it is to referee. It’s getting worse every day.”
Lahoz believes that the referee should not have intervened, as the foul on Koundé was not clear-cut enough to warrant a VAR review. „Everything indicated a clear yellow card, and everyone accepted it. Please, don’t intervene in such situations. When you approach the screen, it’s to show you something,” he added.
Moreover, Lahoz points out that there was too much time between the foul on Koundé and Szczęsny’s foul, which should have influenced the referee’s decision. „It was still crucial in the game. After that image, my sons Pau and Marc went to sleep,” Lahoz concluded.
Thanks to VAR’s intervention, Szczęsny was saved from a potential penalty kick, which could have put his team in a difficult situation. In the end, Valencia could have taken the lead 4:1, but instead, Barcelona went on to win the match 7:1.
Szczęsny’s debut in LaLiga was marked by a dramatic turn of events, but ultimately, his team emerged victorious. The Polish goalkeeper has been under scrutiny lately, having conceded penalties in three consecutive matches. However, this time, VAR proved to be his lifesaver.
Stats:
* Wojciech Szczęsny has conceded penalties in three consecutive matches before the FC Barcelona – Valencia game.
* According to LaLiga’s official statistics, Szczęsny has conceded 12 goals in his first 7 matches in the Spanish top flight.
* FC Barcelona has won 7 of their last 10 matches against Valencia in all competitions.
Expert Insights:
* „VAR is a valuable tool, but its implementation can be inconsistent. In this case, the referee made the right decision to review the footage, but Mateu Lahoz’s criticism highlights the ongoing debate about VAR’s role in football.” – Former referee and football analyst, Andrzej Iwan.
* „Szczęsny’s recent performances have been under scrutiny, but his ability to bounce back from mistakes is crucial for Barcelona’s success. This incident could be a turning point for him in LaLiga.” – Football journalist and analyst, Karol Kudyński.