LaLiga: Barcelona coach Xavi takes dig after VAR controversy erupts in Real Madrid’s 3-2 win vs Almeria

FC Barcelona head coach Xavi has taken a major dig at Real Madrid and LaLiga. Controversy erupted in Real Madrid’s 3-2 win against last placed Almeria after VAR ruled two major decisions in favour of the former. One of Almeria’s goals was ruled out by VAR due to infringement and one of the penalty decisions was awarded in favour of Real Madrid when they were trailing in the game.

FC Barcelona head coach hit out at Madrid after the match and said that it would be difficult to be in the running for the Spanish title this season, hinting that LaLiga and the referees were biased towards Madrid in the competition.

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Xavi claimed that Barcelona would have 6 more points if the referees did their job in the LaLiga matches. Xavi argued that Barcelona will be much closer to the top of the league if they had won those games.

“I already said it after the Getafe game: winning the league this year will be very difficult. I’ll stick with the words of Garitano, and the words of the journalist Alfredo Relaño,” he told reporters.

“We would have had six more points if things were done correctly…We have the penalty in Getafe, then in Vallecas, the goal in Granada by Joao Félix,” he further added.

“They are realities. But this is not talked about. We can’t do anything but continue working,” Xavi said.

Xavi stirred the pot further stating that people saw how the referees favour Real Madrid during the Almeria game.

“We continue in the fight. There are 18 points left and it remains to be seen how far we will go, but there are things we cannot control. Everyone saw it today,” concluded the Barcelona head coach.

Real Madrid vs Almeria

A Dani Carvajal strike in the ninth-minute of stoppage time rescued Real Madrid, earning them a 3-2 comeback win at home against bottom side Almeria on Sunday in a frantic LaLiga tussle that was marked by VAR controversy.

Lowly Almeria, who remained winless after 21 LaLiga matches this season, grabbed a two-goal lead with goals from Largie Ramazani and Edgar Gonzalez in the first half.

But Real Madrid reduced the deficit in the 56th minute with a Jude Bellingham penalty awarded for handball after a lengthy VAR check.

Almeria had a Sergio Arribas effort ruled out a little later after another long VAR check, with the referee Francisco Maeso ruling there was an infringement in the build-up when Almeria midfielder Dion Lopy caught Bellingham in the face.

Five minutes later, Maeso first ruled out Real Madrid’s equaliser for a Vinicius Jr handball before awarding the goal after deciding it was off the shoulder following another VAR review.