Neither Madrid nor Arsenal, the main protagonist of the start of the return of the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League was undoubtedly the VAR. First he warned of a maximum penalty committed by Asencio that no one saw and, just minutes later, he annulled a foul in the area committed by Declan Rice and indicated by the collegiate live.
It all happened in a frantic beginning of the whites, when suddenly the collegiate The duel called by the VAR stopped to review a possible penalty action. Uncertainty fell above all the stadium and also on the commentators, who did not know what play was going to be reviewed, apparently, Nothing had happened on the green.
The Var sees a penalty that went unnoticed
Soon the realization resolved the doubt, the repetition showed a struggle between Asencio and Merino with a grip between them and that culminates with the Spanish striker on the ground. Very doubtful, bordering, of pure interpretation.
After a few seconds of review, the referee did not hesitate and pointed out the penalty spot. It was time for Courtois.
Courtois, the hero of the night
Saka assumed the responsibility, the striker affected by the ruling from the eleven meters in the 2021 Eurocup final that caused so much stir. The noise of the stadium was deafening and in the face showed doubt … he opted for A shot ‘to the panenka’ to the right of goalkeeper merengue that Courtois guess perfectly.
Suddenly, the merengue fief exploded in the celebration of the Belgian, as if it were a goal. It was not for less, because some of the Londoners threw any option of The men of Ancelotti.
The Var cancels the penalty of Declan Rice
The controversy, however, was not there, because just a quarter of an hour later The border action moved to the other area in a senile grip – of Declan Rice to Mbappé that Francois Letexier whistled instantaneously.
From there began a new period of uncertainty, as the referee waited for orders from the Vor room For almost six minutes with the game stopped and Madrid despair growing second to second.
In the end, he ordered him to see the screen and the controversial decision, another one, It would be the annulment of the penalty allegedly by Rodrygo’s anti -regulation position… that I do not interfere in the play. The yellow to Rice was also annulled.
At the end of the first half the result remained in zero draw and the whites stay 45 minutes to say goodbye to the UEFA Champions League.
