Barcelona boss weighs in on Julian Alvarez penalty controversy against Real Madrid | OneFootball

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick offered his condolences to Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez after the Argentine's penalty was controversially ruled out during a shootout defeat to Real Madrid in midweek.

The former Manchester City forward infamously slipped while striking the ball. Alvarez's effort managed to deceive Thibaut Courtois and nestle underneath the crossbar, but a VAR review revealed that Atletico's summer recruit had inadvertently (and illegally) struck the ball twice, thereby ruling out his effort.

After Lucas Vazquez's subsequent miss, Marcos Llorente's wayward effort proved to be the decisive errant kick as Atletico crashed out of the Champions League at the hands of their city rivals once again. But the focus has remained fixed on the decision to disallow Alvarez's attempt.

Flick was asked about the controversy before his Barcelona side travel to Atletico's Metropolitano stadium on Sunday night. "What do you want me to say?" the German coach shrugged. "It was very unfortunate. I felt sorry for him. He's one of the best players, a fantastic footballer, and a great goalscorer. I feel sorry for him, I repeat... but I have nothing more to say."

UEFA have revealed slow-motion footage of the incident which appears to show Alvarez's standing foot gently brush the ball before contact is made with his swinging right boot. European football's governing body even suggested that they would discuss whether a future amendment should be made to the laws of the game. Yet, nothing could quell the rage still boiling in Diego Simeone.

The first question bravely put to the forthright Atletico coach this week was inevitably about the penalty debate. "Normally I would answer 'Barcelona,' but this time the situation warrants expressing my feelings of anger," Simeone seethed. "However, it's up to me to keep working so the team can continue competing. The feeling we all have is one of anger and injustice."

Atletico may be out of the Champions League, but they are very much in the La Liga title race. Victory at home to Barcelona on Sunday would take the capital club above their Catalan visitors in a fiercely competitive three-way race for Spain's top flight which also includes Real Madrid.