CESAR AZPILICUETA will be counting his lucky stars after the referee waved away Atletico Madrid star Yannick Carrasco’s penalty claims.
The Spaniards, along with almost everybody watching at home, were convinced they should have been handed a spot-kick in the 25th minute of their Champions League last-16 second leg clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
With the game deadlocked at 0-0, and the LaLiga leaders needing a goal to level the scores on aggregate, Carrasco sharply sprinted onto Azpilicueta’s underhit back pass.
As the Chelsea skipper realised his pass was not going to reach keeper Edouard Mendy, he reached out and clearly wrapped his arm around the forward before the Belgian theatrically fell to the turf.
The referee waved away the protests from Carrasco and manager Diego Simeone on the touchline.
The initial contact may have occurred outside the area, but replays showed it continued into the 18-yard box – giving Atleti every reason to feel aggrieved, especially considering it was NOT checked by VAR.
Azpilicueta would also likely have been sent off had the penalty been given.
Even former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole believed Azpilicueta was lucky to escape punishment.
He said on BT Sport: “We definitely got away with one there.
“Cesar [Azpilicueta] knows he’s undercooked the backpass, he knows he’s in trouble and it the arm across him.
“In this day and age, I don’t know why it hasn’t gone to VAR to have a look at it.”
CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL DAY THREE OFFERS
I’m amazed it didn’t go to VAR, says Halsey
By Mark Halsey
CESAR AZPILICUETA was lucky not to concede a first-half penalty against Atletico Madrid.
The Chelsea captain committed a holding offence on Yannick Carrasco with the Blues 1-0 ahead on aggregate at that point of the tie.
I was really surprised Italian VAR official Massimiliano Irrati did not recommend a review to referee Daniele Orsato.
Azpilicueta played a weak back pass to Edouard Mendy and then put his arm around Carrasco’s waist inside the penalty box.
The Spaniard ran the risk of giving away a spot-kick by deliberately holding his opponent even though the contact was minimal.
If a penalty had been awarded then Orsato would have had no other option but to send off Azpilicueta for a denial of an obvious goal scoring opportunity.
Atletico boss Diego Simeone will not be happy because the incident would have been a game changing moment.
Stefan Savic can have no complaints with his red card for violent conduct after he elbowed Antonio Rudiger.
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand was in agreement further arguing that VAR has become a ‘farce.’
He added: “This is why VAR has become such a farce. Because it gives situations like that where you think ‘oh my god, how has that not been looked at?’.
“Once the referee sees that, he 100 per cent gives a penalty.”
Atletico’s misery was compounded moments later when Hakim Ziyech put Chelsea firmly in the driving seat when he fired home Timo Werner’s cross.
Stefan Savic was sent off after the break for an elbow aimed at Antonio Rudiger, before substitute Emerson Palmieri wrapped it up in stoppage time as Chelsea coasted into the quarter-finals with a 3-0 aggregate win.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
