FC Barcelona suffered a 0-2 defeat against Atletico Madrid at the Spotify Camp Nou in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final. The match turned difficult for Barcelona after a first-half red card to Pau Cubarsi, leaving the team with ten men. However, much of the post-match discussion focused on a controversial refereeing decision by Istvan Kovacs. The key moment came when Atletico’s Marc Pubill handled the ball inside the penalty area after goalkeeper Juan Musso had already restarted play. Despite protests, no penalty was awarded, and VAR did not intervene. The decision left Barcelona players and staff frustrated, with reports suggesting the club is considering an official complaint to UEFA.
Rashford calls it a clear penalty
Speaking after the match, Barcelona forward Marcus Rashford strongly criticised the decision. He said the handball was an obvious penalty and pointed to similar incidents being penalised in the past.
“It’s clear to me, it’s a penalty. It’s happened before and it’s always been given. I don’t understand the decision,” he said to CBS Sports Golazo. Rashford also dismissed claims that the situation was unusual. He said that even a basic understanding of the game suggests it should have been given as a penalty, adding that reactions from both teams showed it was a clear call. He referred to a similar incident involving Tyrone Mings in a match between Club Brugge and Aston Villa to support his argument.
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Rashford backs Cubarsi, eyes comeback
Rashford also defended teammate Pau Cubarsi, saying the red card was not due to a lack of maturity but a result of Barcelona’s aggressive style of play. He said that trying to win the ball back is part of the team’s approach, and sometimes such risks lead to tough outcomes. Despite going down to ten men, he felt Barcelona responded well but failed to convert chances.
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Looking ahead, Rashford remained confident about a comeback in the second leg. He said the team needs to stay calm, play with confidence and improve their finishing in front of the goal. Barcelona now face a tough challenge, but Rashford believes they still have the quality to turn the tie around in the next match.
