Two great rivals, matches that Madrid lived for, 210 minutes of drama and finally a moment in the penalty shootout that put everything else in the background...
Real Madrid once again beat Atletico in the most painful way possible, advancing to the quarterfinals of the Champions League on penalties, all after VAR overturned a penalty kick by Julián Álvarez.
It all happened during the second penalty shootout, when the Argentine slipped but scored to make it 2:2. Everything seemed legal, but then the VAR room told referee Šimon Marcinjak that Julijan had touched the ball twice during the shot.
The rules are clear - something like that is not allowed and the goal had to be disallowed. The problem with all of this is that many people, even after persistently watching the replay, are not sure that the Atlético striker had double contact with the ball.
This moment also divided former Spanish referees contacted by Madrid's "Marca" - some are certain of the correctness of the decision, while others think differently.
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There was no theft.
Pavel Fernandes, referee analyst for Radio Marka, has no dilemma.
"Julian Alvarez touched the ball twice - with both feet. Everything is clear there and the goal had to be disallowed. VAR intervened to warn Marcinka," Fernandes said clearly.
Marko Antonio Rodrigues, better known as Ćikimarko, refereed at three world championships (2006, 2010 and 2014), has 19 years of professional refereeing behind him, and there are no doubts about him either.
"There was no theft, as many accuse someone of? It is difficult to clearly see at first glance whether Alvares had two contacts with the ball, however, the people in the VAR room are more knowledgeable about the technical details related to the rules, they take advantage of technology and I think everything is clear," Rodriguez pointed out.
Mateu Laos: I would like to see the recording.
Many people remember Antonio Mateu Laos because until recently he refereed La Liga matches, and he also refereed at the World Cup, and when it comes to this situation, he is not entirely sure that it was the right one.
In an analysis on Movistar, he stated that he would have acted differently.
"If I were refereeing such a crucial match, I wouldn't be relaxed if the VAR room told me that the goal wasn't correct. I would ask to go myself, watch the video and make a decision based on that. Because it's my responsibility, I would have to carry all of that on my back later - that's why it's important that the decision is mine. That's how I understand refereeing. Of course, the technology is very good, but it's better when you see everything with your own eyes... Well, at this moment we all still doubt whether it was the right decision," Mateu Laos pointed out.
Ituralde Gonzales: Even after all the footage, it's not clear if he touched the ball twice
Eduardo Ituralde Gonzales, another former famous judge and now an analyst for "Kadena Ser", thinks similarly.
"I don't believe in conspiracy theories, but in all the footage I've seen or that has been forwarded to me, it's not clear that Alvarez touched the ball twice," Gonzalez pointed out.
Pedro Martin, the referee commentator at the Kopa, explained the reason why VAR warned Marcinjak to disallow the goal.
"VAR is always careful - the referees probably zoomed in there, put the ball in the foreground and saw double contact. The normal thing in these cases is that the penalty taker misses and then there is nothing to cancel. But now with video technology, when you look closer, everything looks different," says Martin.
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