La Liga Roundup - VAR gives, VAR takes away in controversial weekend for Spanish refs

September 24, 2018 By Oscar Rojas

Topics: La Liga, Real Madrid, Espanyol, Barcelona, Girona

Both Real Madrid and Barcelona were involved in questionable calls by Spanish refs thanks to technology being used in the Spanish top flight.

La Liga refs are being totally exposed this season, as several of their decisions have been overturned by the use of the Video Assistant referee, commonly referred to as VAR.

Curiously enough both Real Madrid and Barcelona were involved in controversy this weekend, as technology gave Los Blancos a chance to win their game against Espanyol, while Los Blaugranas had to deal with a setback due to ref Gil Manzano's decision.

Marco Asensio vs Espanyol

The Spanish footballer scored a late goal for Real Madrid against their other Catalan rival, and ref Mateu Lahoz decided to rule the goal offside. Nevertheless, VAR came to Real Madrid's rescue and forced the Spanish ref to allow the goal to go up. As you can see in the pic below, Asensio was well onside when Modric's shot was deflected.

Clement Lenglet vs Girona

The French defender was sent off by referee Gil Manzano after calling a foul against Pepe Pons. After being adviced by VAR refs to look at the footage of the incident, Manzano decided to send the footballer off after throwing an elbow against Pons, who referred to this decision as "unfair".

Pichichi race

Lionel Messi had broken the tie against Karim Benzema earlier on Sunday, but a Girona footballer leveled his goalscoring account in a matter of minutes, keeping the fight to become the best striker in La Liga alive.

Standings

Here's how things stand after five games and with Matchday 6 just around the corner.

Pos. Team MP W D L GF GA GD P Form
1 Real Madrid 33 26 6 1 71 22 +49 84 WWWWW

2 Girona 33 22 5 6 69 40 +29 71 WWLWL

3 Barcelona 32 21 7 4 64 37 +27 70 LWWWW

4 Atlético Madrid 33 20 4 9 62 39 +23 64 WLWWL

5 Athletic Club 33 16 10 7 53 33 +20 58 LDDLW

6 Real Sociedad 33 13 12 8 46 35 +11 51 LDDWW

7 Real Betis 33 12 13 8 41 39 +2 49 DWWLL

8 Valencia 32 13 8 11 35 34 +1 47 LWWDL

9 Villarreal 33 12 9 12 54 55 -1 45 WWDLW

10 Getafe 33 10 13 10 41 45 -4 43 WDDLW

11 Osasuna 33 11 6 16 37 49 -12 39 LLLWL

12 Deportivo Alavés 33 10 8 15 31 38 -7 38 WWLLL

13 Sevilla 33 9 11 13 42 46 -4 38 DWWWL

14 Las Palmas 33 10 7 16 30 41 -11 37 LLLLL

15 Rayo Vallecano 33 7 13 13 27 42 -15 34 LWDDW

16 Mallorca 33 6 14 13 27 39 -12 32 DLLDW

17 Celta de Vigo 33 7 10 16 37 50 -13 31 LWLDW

18 Cádiz 33 4 14 15 23 46 -23 26 DLLWL

19 Granada 33 4 9 20 36 61 -25 21 WDWLL

20 Almería 33 1 11 21 32 67 -35 14 LLDLW

Pos.	Team	MP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	P	Form
1	Real Madrid	33	26	6	1	71	22	+49	84	WWWWW
2	Girona	33	22	5	6	69	40	+29	71	WWLWL
3	Barcelona	32	21	7	4	64	37	+27	70	LWWWW
4	Atlético Madrid	33	20	4	9	62	39	+23	64	WLWWL
5	Athletic Club	33	16	10	7	53	33	+20	58	LDDLW
6	Real Sociedad	33	13	12	8	46	35	+11	51	LDDWW
7	Real Betis	33	12	13	8	41	39	+2	49	DWWLL
8	Valencia	32	13	8	11	35	34	+1	47	LWWDL
9	Villarreal	33	12	9	12	54	55	-1	45	WWDLW
10	Getafe	33	10	13	10	41	45	-4	43	WDDLW
11	Osasuna	33	11	6	16	37	49	-12	39	LLLWL
12	Deportivo Alavés	33	10	8	15	31	38	-7	38	WWLLL
13	Sevilla	33	9	11	13	42	46	-4	38	DWWWL
14	Las Palmas	33	10	7	16	30	41	-11	37	LLLLL
15	Rayo Vallecano	33	7	13	13	27	42	-15	34	LWDDW
16	Mallorca	33	6	14	13	27	39	-12	32	DLLDW
17	Celta de Vigo	33	7	10	16	37	50	-13	31	LWLDW
18	Cádiz	33	4	14	15	23	46	-23	26	DLLWL
19	Granada	33	4	9	20	36	61	-25	21	WDWLL
20	Almería	33	1	11	21	32	67	-35	14	LLDLW