Was Barcelona vs Chelsea a Robbery?

By Anna Duncan

Barcelona vs Chelsea: Was it a Robbery?

The Controversial Match

Football matches can be thrilling, exhilarating, and sometimes controversial. The Barcelona vs Chelsea match played on March 14th, 2018 was no exception. The match was the second leg of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 tie played at the Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona.

The first leg had ended in a 1-1 draw, with Chelsea taking the lead courtesy of Willian’s goal. However, Lionel Messi scored a crucial equalizer for Barcelona to give them an away goal advantage going into the second leg.

The Match Recap

The second leg was a tense affair with both teams creating numerous chances to score. However, it was Barcelona who took the lead through Lionel Messi’s goal in the 3rd minute. Chelsea responded positively and equalized through Willian’s goal in the 62nd minute.

The match was evenly poised until the 67th minute, when Marcos Alonso fouled Luis Suarez inside the penalty box. The referee pointed to the spot and Lionel Messi converted to give Barcelona a 2-1 lead. From that point on, Chelsea pushed forward relentlessly but could not find an equalizer despite several attempts.

The Controversy

The penalty decision by the referee was highly controversial and sparked a lot of debate among football fans around the world. Some argued that it was a clear foul by Alonso and therefore deserved punishment while others felt that Suarez had dived and fooled the referee into giving a penalty.

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte protested vehemently against the decision after the match stating that it was an unfair call by the referee. He also criticized the officials for not awarding a clear penalty to Chelsea in the first half.

The Verdict

While the decision to award Barcelona a penalty was controversial, it is difficult to argue with the fact that they were the better team over the course of two legs. Barcelona dominated possession and created more chances than Chelsea, who struggled to break down their defense.

Football matches can be decided by small margins and sometimes controversial decisions. While it may seem like robbery to some, others will argue that it was a fair decision based on the rules of the game.

In Conclusion

  • The Barcelona vs Chelsea match played on March 14th, 2018 was highly controversial.
  • The penalty decision by the referee in favor of Barcelona was widely debated among football fans around the world.
  • Despite protests from Chelsea manager Antonio Conte, it is difficult to argue with the fact that Barcelona were the better team over two legs.

Football will always be a game of opinions and controversies, but what cannot be denied is that it continues to captivate fans around the world with its thrilling action and unpredictable outcomes.