Flick says Barça penalty after Pubill handball
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- Hansi Flick condemned the referee, saying Barcelona should have been awarded a second‑half penalty after Marc Pubill’s handball and that the incident warranted a red card.
- Marc Pubill stopped the ball with his hand in the penalty area after a goal kick, a foul Flick argued should have resulted in a second yellow and a penalty.
- VAR upgraded Pau Cubarsí’s yellow card to a red for a last‑man challenge on Giuliano Simeone, leading to the free kick from which Julián Álvarez scored.
- Julián Álvarez scored his ninth Champions League goal of the season from the resulting free kick, putting Atlético ahead.
- Alexander Sørloth added a second goal in the 70th minute, securing Atlético’s first win at Camp Nou since 2006.
- Marcus Rashford recorded seven shots but failed to score, while Atlético goalkeeper Juan Musso made seven saves.
Why it matters: Barcelona's loss and the denied penalty leave them trailing 2-0 on aggregate, forcing them to chase a comeback in the second leg while Atlético gains a comfortable cushion. The controversy also highlights the influence of VAR decisions on crucial knockout fixtures.
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