At the start of the second half, Atlético de Madrid came out with renewed energy, determined to find an equalizer that would keep them alive in the competition. They faced an Arsenal side caught off guard by the relentless waves of attacks launched by the rojiblancos. The pressure was palpable, and it soon led to two incidents that required the intervention of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
The first VAR review centered on a possible penalty for Giuliano. As Giuliano drove into the box, he appeared to be clipped by an Arsenal defender, sending him to the ground. The referee initially let play continue, but the VAR team took a closer look. After a brief check, they determined that contact was insufficient to award a spot-kick, and play resumed without further action.
Just minutes later, another controversial moment unfolded. Antoine Griezmann, cutting in from the left, was poised to shoot when Arsenal's Pubill made a tackle. The tackle clearly impeded Griezmann's progress, and many inside the stadium expected a penalty. However, the referee instead blew his whistle for a foul on Pubill by an Atlético player earlier in the move. The decision effectively stopped play before Griezmann's incident, preventing any consideration of a penalty.
VAR reviewed the sequence and confirmed that the initial foul on Pubill was indeed correct. As a result, the potential penalty for Griezmann could not be given because the play had already been halted. This decision sparked debate: while the foul on Pubill was valid, the subsequent contact on Griezmann would have been a clear penalty had play continued. The VAR's hands were tied by the laws of the game.
The incident highlighted the fine margins in modern football, where a foul in one phase of play can directly impact the ability to punish a more obvious offense later. Atlético fans were left frustrated, feeling that a clear goalscoring opportunity was denied. Arsenal, on the other hand, breathed a sigh of relief as they continued to defend their lead.
Despite these controversies, Atlético kept pressing. The team's spirit remained high, but they were unable to find the breakthrough. The match ultimately ended without the equalizer, leaving Atlético to rue what might have been. The VAR reviews, though technically correct, left a lingering sense of injustice for the home side.
Based on reporting from Fútbol.