Raphinha gives Barca opener with ‘magnificent’ finish after Hall slip
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Kieran Trippier escaped being given a red card during the first half of Newcastle United’s UEFA Champions League last 16 clash against Barcelona on Wednesday night.
Barcelona took the lead twice in the first half, but were pegged back by two brilliant Anthony Elanga goals as Eddie Howe’s team contributed to a thrilling first half of football.
However, in added time before the half-time break, Barca were awarded a penalty following a VAR check, as Lamine Yamal slotted past Aaron Ramsdale to put the hosts 3-2 ahead on the night, and 4-3 on aggregate.
Replays showed Raphinha bursting into the box and making a run to the back post as he looked to get on the end of Yamal’s low cross, with Trippier closely following him before tugging the Brazilian down.
“Fabulous ball [from Yamal], an absolutely exquisite ball,” Glenn Hoddle said on TNT Sports commentary.
“It’s on a plate [for Raphinha]. When it happened, I thought, ‘Has Trippier pulled him back?’ Because he knows he’s not goal-side.
Ruthless Newcastle equalise through Elanga after sublime move
Video credit: TNT Sports
“He’s held him back, you’ve got to say he’s impeded him and stopped him from getting to the ball.
“You just hope he doesn’t give him a red. I think he’ll give the penalty, when he [the referee] looks at this, unfortunately for Trippier.
“He’s pulling him, sometimes you can hold for a split second and get away with it, but I think he’s held onto him for too long. He’s held and held and held, and it’s stopped him getting there.”
Referee Francois Letexier brandished a yellow card after awarding the penalty, controversially concluding that Trippier did not deny a goalscoring opportunity.
The official International Football Association Board (IFAB) rule reads: “Where a player commits an offence against an opponent within their own penalty area which denies an opponent an obvious goal-scoring opportunity and the referee awards a penalty kick, the offender is cautioned if the offence was an attempt to play the ball or a challenge for the ball; in all other circumstances (e.g. holding, pulling, pushing, no possibility to play the ball etc.), the offending player must be sent off.”
“I was worried he was going to give him a red, but he’s given him a yellow and I think Trippier has got to take that one on the chin and get on with it,” a surprised Hoddle continued on TNT Sports.
“Sometimes you can’t blame the defender, the pass was so good you’re not expecting a ball to be played in behind the defense like that. He was playing catch-up at the last minute.”
But what did TNT Sports pundit Joleon Lescott think?
“I don’t know, it would have definitely made it a lot harder [for Newcastle],” he said.
“I wouldn’t say so. There’s the thing regarding the double jeopardy in regards to giving away the foul and you get the penalty rewarded for that.
“He’s probably just got caught thinking, ‘I don’t want to be like every other full-back in the game so far and not being close to the winger as he’s tapping it into the net’.”
‘What character!’ – Lightning strikes twice as Elanga levels AGAIN!
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How to watch Barcelona v Newcastle on TNT Sports
Barcelona v Newcastle takes place on Wednesday, March 18 at Camp Nou.
Kick-off is at 17:45 UK time, with live coverage on TNT Sports 2 and discovery+ starting from 17:00.
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