The highly anticipated matchup between Atlético de Madrid and Real Madrid in the round of 16 took an extraordinary turn when a crucial penalty kick sparked immense controversy. With the score standing at 2-1 in favor of Atlético, Julián Álvarez successfully converted the second penalty for the home team, only to have the goal disallowed by referee Szymon Marciniak after a VAR review. The reason behind this dramatic reversal? Álvarez had touched the ball twice during the execution of the penalty, rendering the goal invalid.
As footage released by ESPN shows, a confused Julián Álvarez retreated to the midfield line, where his teammates, including Pablo Barrios, Samuel Lino, and Ángel Correa, hastily approached him, inquiring about the incident. Although it’s challenging to make out their exact conversation, it’s clear that Álvarez was uncertain whether he had indeed touched the ball twice. The Argentine player can be seen shaking his head and repeatedly responding with a perplexed “I don’t know.”
A tweet from @SrNaninho shared a clip of the incident, with Álvarez seemingly acknowledging that he might have made contact with the ball twice. The tweet reads, “No sé, puede ser, pero no sé” (“I don’t know, it could be, but I don’t know”), highlighting Álvarez’s own doubts about the play.
Former Referee Pedro Henriques Weighs In
In an explanation provided to A BOLA, former referee Pedro Henriques breaks down the incident, shedding light on the complexities of the VAR review process.
Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois described how he witnessed the play unfold, immediately alerting the referee along with teammate Mbappé. “I felt like he stepped on the ball twice, and I warned the referee. It’s a bit of bad luck for them. It’s something the VAR should analyze, because if the ball touches two feet, the goal is disallowed,” Courtois recalled. The referee, Marciniak, ultimately disallowed the goal, and Valverde went on to score, making it 3-1 and essentially sealing the deal. Although Lucas Vázquez missed a subsequent penalty attempt, and Marcos Llorente also failed to convert, Rudiger ultimately scored the decisive penalty.
The drama that unfolded on the field served as a stark reminder of the high stakes and intense pressure that come with competing at the highest level. As the teams battled it out, every move, every call, and every decision was under the microscope, leaving fans on the edge of their seats until the very end.
