Hansi Flick Backs VAR as Barcelona Reclaims LaLiga Top Spot with Controversial Victory

FC Barcelona reclaimed the top spot in LaLiga with a controversial 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano on Monday, February 18. Robert Lewandowski secured the win for the Blaugranas by converting a penalty in the first half, while tempers flared during the second half. Barcelona manager Hansi Flick defended the video assistant referee (VAR) after Rayo Vallecano expressed frustration over several controversial decisions.

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Flick Defends VAR as Rayo’s Unbeaten Streak Ends with Controversial Defeat

Rayo Vallecano complained after the referee denied them a penalty and grew further frustrated when officials disallowed Jorge de Frutos’ potential equalizer in the 42nd minute, deeming it harshly ruled out. The defeat ended Rayo’s 9-match unbeaten streak, which had propelled them into the league’s top-10 positions.

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“I haven’t rewatched the incidents, but I always stand by the VAR. We have the VAR, and I believe in it—that’s all I can say,” Flick told Movistar Plus. He expressed happiness over securing the three points, acknowledging the difficulty of the match against a strong Rayo Vallecano side in great form. Flick praised his players for their effort in the tough game and expressed pride in their performance.

Barcelona Tops LaLiga Amid Refereeing Controversy, Flick Praises Team’s Resilience

Monday’s incidents intensified the ongoing debate over refereeing in Spain, as Barca rivals Real Madrid clashed with the Spanish FA and LaLiga. Real Madrid had even sent a letter to the Spanish federation criticizing a referee’s performance in one of their matches. With Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid dropping points over the weekend, Barca climbed to the top of the standings after Monday’s win. They now share 51 points with Real but lead on goal difference. Atletico trail by one point, while Rayo, who suffered their first league defeat since early December, sit sixth with 35 points.

“Everyone is happy, and I believe we played well, although we can still improve,” Flick said. “Winning here today and moving to first place was a great success for us it’s very positive.” However, Flick emphasized that he doesn’t focus on the table this early in the season. “We are still in February, and there’s a long way to go. But I’m happy for the players. Their mentality is to fight until the end, and we will take it one game at a time,” he added.