Huge VAR controversy mars Real Madrid’s victory over Atletico Madrid

There was huge controversy as Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid’s Champions League clash went all the way to penalties.

Heading into the second leg, Real were leading 2-1 but saw their advantage wiped out inside the first minute after Conor Gallagher netted to make it 1-0.

Los Blancos were awarded a penalty in the second half after Clement Lenglet fouled Kylian Mbappe, but Vinicius Junior failed to convert as he put his spot kick high and wide.

In the end, the match ended 1-0 on the night and 2-2 on aggregate.

In extra time, both teams huffed and puffed to score the all-important goal but failed to do so, meaning a penalty shootout was needed to decide the winner of the tie.

During the shootout, Julian Alvarez took Atletico’s second penalty and scored.

However, there was a hugely controversial moment as VAR ruled out the Argentine’s penalty for double contact.

Replays did not however show that Alvarez touched the ball twice despite slipping when making contact with the ball.

In the end, the penalty was ruled out, and it went down as a miss for Atletico.

Eventually, Antonio Rudiger scored the decisive penalty to clinch a 4-2 shootout victory.

Reacting on social media, fans were wondering why Alvarez was not allowed to retake his spot kick.

One fan said: “How the f*** does he not get to retake that penalty? It was a slip… hardly intentional. If the keeper comes off the line it gets retaken?”

Another tweeted: “Check the replay but I don’t understand why he wasn’t allowed to retake.”

A third fan added: “Surely just retake the pen then. Kinda ruins it cancelling it.”

Someone else wrote: “I swear that has always been a retake?????”

Speaking, former Madrid player Steve McManaman said: “Sometimes the best team doesn’t win. Sometimes you need a huge chunk of luck to go through.

“Real Madrid have had luck in spades tonight. Julian Alvarez slipping, an irregular kick disallowed. Antonio Rudiger sneaking in the last kick. Just wow. They got away with it.

“You can see why Atletico Madrid feel like the underdogs. They have given their all and they are out.”

Jamie Carragher was forced to leave the studio midway through their Champions League show on Wednesday as presenter Kate Scott explained his unexpected departure.

The 47-year-old, who was in the Anfield crowd on Tuesday night as his former side Liverpool came up against Paris Saint-Germain, joined Thierry Henry, Micah Richards and Kate Scott in the London-based studio.

He was involved in the build-up to an action-packed night of games, and was ‘cooked’ by Scott as she introduced the trio to those watching at home.

But when cameras returned to the studio after Wednesday’s half-time whistle, Carragher had left the coverage.

A short time later, Henry and Richards questioned where their fellow panel member had gone, only for Scott to share the news that the former Liverpool defender wasn’t feeling well.

As mentioned above, Carragher was at Anfield on Tuesday night as Liverpool were knocked out of the Champions League on penalties by Paris Saint-Germain.

The former England international cut a stone-faced in the Kop and shortly after the full-time whistle on Tuesday, he admitted to feeling “deflated” after watching Arne Slot’s side fall at the last 16 stage.

Speaking about the result, he said: “I am a bit deflated about the result but listen, the best team won – PSG.”

After such a disappointing evening, Carragher returned to the CBS studio after missing Tuesday’s coverage but presenter Scott was quick to remind the so-called “prodigal son” about Tuesday night’s result.

“Hello, welcome to our London studios. I am Kate Scott and I am once again joined by Thierry Henry and Micah Richards.

“Tonight, just like the story of the prodigal son. A bit too big for his boots, he thought life would be sweeter on the road. He thought he would be away, enjoying drinking and revelling, but he took a major loss and realised his foolishness.”

Scott added: “He came home, humbled. Hoping that he would be accepted. Jamie Carragher, back in the chair.”

Atletico Madrid star Julian Alvarez has picked out the three toughest opponents he has faced so far in his career.

Alvarez, 25, made a name for himself after putting in a string of impressive performances for River Plate, earning him a move to Manchester City in 2022.

After making over 100 appearances for the Premier League side, Alvarez left City for Atletico back in the summer of 2024.

Since then, the Argentine forward has scored 22 goals for Diego Simeone’s side.

Speaking last year, Alvarez picked out the three defenders that caused him the most trouble in his career so far.

He said: “Van Dijk because he is very strong. He’s one of the best defenders in the world. I’ve also faced Cuti [Cristian] Romero and Licha [Lisandro] Martinez.

“Cuti (Romero) because he’s very aggressive and one of the best centre-backs in the world now too. And Licha (Martinez) too. They are both very similar in their aggressive defending.”

Dutchman Virgil van Dijk suffered a disappointing night at Anfield on Tuesday after Liverpool were knocked out of the Champions League by Paris Saint Germain.

Ousmane Dembele scored to level the tie at 1-1 before Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones missed crucial penalties during the shootout, which handed PSG a place in the last eight.

On Wednesday night, Alvarez will look to help Atletico overturn a 2-1 deficit against cross-town rivals Real Madrid.

Speaking ahead of the match, Atletico boss Simeone said: “I believe in my players, I trust this squad. I absolutely understand the heart they have and I have no doubt that we will be looking to stay in the Champions League. Our objective is to play in the final.

“Our people will push us, but the reality is what happens on the pitch. We’re not going to win just because of what happens in the stands. We have to play a great game.

“I would ask the young players if they ever imagined playing in these matches, and surely they would say no. It is the most beautiful thing, the youth that is beginning to gain experience in these matches.”

Before hanging up his boots, former Denmark international Thomas Gravesen would regularly use pre-season to hone his skills on Call of Duty – and he was pretty good at it.

Gravesen, who was known by his teammates as ‘Mad Dog’, played in the Premier League for Everton, had a stint at Celtic, and managed to find the time to make 66 senior caps for his national side.

He even played for Real Madrid, making a shock departure from the Toffees in 2005 before joining Los Blancos for just £2.5 million.

While he may have said farewell to football 16 years ago, the controversial midfielder has since been living the high life and has made sure his name hasn’t been out of the headlines for too long.

Gravesen is reportedly worth a staggering £100 million, thanks to lucrative investments and lives in a gated community with his model girlfriend, Kamila Persse.

He’s also a regular at the Las Vegas pool tables — a place where he has put his honed gaming skills to good use. In fact, it was revealed in 2023 that during his Celtic days, the now 49-year-old used to be a bit of a pool shark.

Appearing on the Undr The Cosh podcast, former Hoops teammate Paul Caddis revealed some behind-the-scenes knowledge to the podcast hosts.

Caddis said: “He used to bring us all in, all the young lads, ‘25 quid a head’. He would only play for money and we never knew why. He’d be like ‘everyone put their money in’. Used to be like £250 sat in there. ‘Two minutes lads’.

“And he’d run down the stairs at Celtic Park,” Caddis continued to reminisce.

“We’d be looking out the window, he’d open up his boot and he brought out this f***ing Ronnie O’Sullivan signed pool cue, snooker cue, screw it up.”

Caddis then laughed that the young members of Celtic’s team would have to use “run of the mill horrendous” pool cues while Gravesen would swan around with “this shiny thing.”

“He just cleaned up, it was unbelievable,” he continued. “He used to take all the money and all. He was a f***ing multi-millionaire.”

Caddis also revealed that instead of going away with the lads in the Scottish Premiership pre-season, the midfielder would return home to Denmark.

He said: “He used to go back [to Denmark] in pre-season and stay at either his mum’s or his dad’s [house] in an attic probably about the f***ing size of this full table. In this little attic, a tiny room for six weeks, just used to sit on his PlayStation.

“He was like number one or number two for Call of Duty at one point,” he added.

UEFA protocols appeared to be broken during Real Madrid’s Champions League clash against Bayern Munich.

On Wednesday night, Real hosted Bayern for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final clash.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side created the better chances but the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium was stunned into utter silence in the 68th minute.

Harry Kane found Alphonso Davies in acres of space before the Canadian chopped back onto his weaker foot and unleashed a stunning effort into the back of Andriy Lunin’s goal.

Madrid thought they had equalised in the 72nd minute through Nacho but his goal was ruled out after VAR felt he had fouled Joshua Kimmich in the build-up.

However, UEFA protocols were reportedly broken during the VAR check as the replay of the incident was shown on the big screen for everyone to see, which was not meant to happen.

According to UEFA regulations, which state: “VAR and GLT replays cannot be shown on the giant screens in the stadium, unless UEFA decides otherwise.

“Simultaneous transmissions and replays of the match are authorised for press monitors and closed-circuit channels. The results of other matches can be shown on the scoreboard and/or giant screen during the match.”

Madrid eventually equalised in the 88th minute through former Stoke City striker Joselu, who was only brought on in the 81st minute.

One minute into stoppage time, Joselu sent the Madrid fans into pandemonium after he tapped home a cross from Antonio Rudiger.

The goal was originally ruled out by the linesman’s flag but VAR replays showed that the Spaniard was in fact onside, meaning the goal was given.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Cheslea player Pat Nevin said: “We have talked to people all day about what this club thinks about this trophy. They believe it is theirs. Even when they are 1-0 down with minutes to go they believe it is theirs.

“It doesn’t matter what happens they will ask questions other clubs can’t ask. The belief is always there.”

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