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Julian Alvarez’s Rollercoaster of Emotions in Champions League Shootout
Julian Alvarez experienced a whirlwind of emotions during Wednesday’s Champions League round of 16 penalty shootout between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid. As the Atletico forward stepped up to take the fourth penalty, his left foot slipped, causing a moment of panic. Relief quickly followed as the ball soared into the top corner of Thibaut Courtois’ net, leveling the score. However, confusion soon engulfed the Metropolitano Stadium when VAR ruled out the goal due to a double touch on the ball.
Replays showed Alvarez accidentally kicked the ball with his right foot onto his standing left foot, violating Law 14 of the game’s rules, which states: “If, after the penalty kick has been taken, the kicker touches the ball again before it has touched another player, an indirect free kick is awarded.” Since the incident occurred during a shootout, the penalty was disallowed, and the shootout continued. Real Madrid ultimately triumphed, leaving Alvarez and Atletico devastated.
The VAR Controversy
Spotting the double touch was no easy task. On-field referee Szymon Marciniak missed the infraction in real time, but VAR official Tomasz Kwiatkowski identified it. UEFA clarified that no advanced technology, such as sensors in the ball, was used—only video replays. This decision sparked heated debates, with Atletico manager Diego Simeone questioning the call. “Raise your hand if you’ve seen Julian kick the ball twice,” he challenged reporters during his post-match press conference. No one raised their hand.
Courtois’ Perspective
Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who played for Atletico for three years, claimed he sensed the double touch immediately. “I felt like it was a double and I told the referee,” he said. “It’s not easy to see, and it’s bad luck for them.” Courtois also dismissed Atletico’s complaints, stating, “Referees don’t want to benefit a team. They saw it clearly and called it that way.”
Alvarez’s Reaction
Alvarez, however, remained unconvinced. “I didn’t feel like I touched the ball,” he told teammates in the dressing room after the match. His manager, Simeone, echoed this sentiment, expressing frustration with the decision.
Ancelotti’s Take
Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti supported the VAR decision, saying, “I didn’t realise it at first, but then I saw it, and it seems to me that Julian Alvarez took the second touch with his left foot.”
The Bigger Picture
The controversy added to Real Madrid’s ongoing grievances with refereeing decisions this season, though Courtois dismissed any notion of victimhood. “I’m always fed up with that victimhood, always crying about things like this,” he said. “With technology, they saw it clearly.”
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