VAR decision changes game: disallowed goal becomes converted penalty by Ayoub El Kaabi for Olympiacos in duel with Barcelona Por Luís Henrique Costa
6 min de leitura
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Barcelona faces Olympiacos in the third round of the UEFA Champions League at the Olímpic Lluís Companys Stadium in Barcelona on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at 1:45 PM Brasília time. The Catalan side took the lead with two goals from Fermín López, but Olympiacos responded with a penalty converted by Ayoub El Kaabi at the 53rd minute of the second half, making the score 2-1. The match remains ongoing, with VAR decisively intervening in the play that led to the penalty after disallowing a Greek goal.
Fermín López opened the scoring at 7 minutes, capitalizing on a pass from Lamine Yamal, and doubled the lead at 38 minutes following a foul he earned. Olympiacos, coached by José Luis Mendilibar, pushed for an equalizer in the second half, but a handball by Eric García resulted in the penalty call.
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The game draws attention due to Barcelona’s need to recover from a prior loss to PSG. Olympiacos, still winless in the competition, relies on counterattacks to surprise.
- Key absences for Barcelona: Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Marc-André ter Stegen, injured.
- For Olympiacos: Rodinei and Rémy Cabella sidelined by injuries.
- Referee: Urs Schnyder, with a low average of cards this season.
- Broadcast: TNT Sports and HBO Max in Brazil.
Starting lineups and formations
Barcelona lined up in a 4-2-3-1, with Wojciech Szczęsny in goal, Jules Koundé in defense, and Pedri in midfield. Fermín López played as a second striker alongside Marcus Rashford and Lamine Yamal.
Olympiacos also opted for a 4-2-3-1, with Konstantinos Tzolakis in goal, Costinha at right-back, and Ayoub El Kaabi up top. Santiago Hezze and Dani García formed the midfield pivot.
Substitutions came early: at 31 minutes, Diogo Nascimento replaced the injured Chiquinho. At halftime, Christos Mouzakitis came on for Gelson Martins.
These changes aim to maintain pace, especially for the Greeks, who need more possession.
Minute-by-minute of key moments up to 54′
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- 1′: Match starts; Olympiacos earns a corner in the opening seconds, with a shot from Daniel Podence saved.
- 5′: Chance for Rashford, who shoots wide after a cross from Balde.
- 7′: Goal for Barcelona! Fermín López scores with his left foot after Yamal’s assist, 1-0.
- 38′: Second goal for Barcelona; López converts after a foul by Hezze, making it 2-0.
- 50′: VAR disallows El Kaabi’s header and awards a penalty for García’s handball.
- 53′: Penalty scored by El Kaabi! Olympiacos pulls one back, 2-1, as the game heats up.
VAR intervention shifts second half
The Video Assistant Referee stepped in at 52 minutes, disallowing Ayoub El Kaabi’s goal for offside in the buildup. Immediately after, the review spotted a handball by Eric García, awarding Olympiacos a penalty.
El Kaabi struck the penalty cleanly, beating Szczęsny, and narrowed the gap. The call sparked debates among players, with Barcelona contesting the decision.
Referee Urs Schnyder reviewed the monitor for two minutes before confirming the call. This was the first VAR intervention in the match.
Olympiacos gains momentum with the goal, pressing more on the right flank with Podence.
Standout performances on the pitch
Fermín López leads the stats with two goals and a high pass accuracy rate. At 21, he has three goals in the Champions League this season.
Lamine Yamal, with an assist for the first goal, created three clear chances in the first half. Pedri controls the midfield with 92% pass accuracy.
For Olympiacos, Ayoub El Kaabi threatens with his speed, scoring the crucial penalty. Santiago Hezze earned a yellow card but remains active in marking.
Daniel Podence received a yellow at 55 minutes for a foul on Pedri, limiting Greek attacking options.
Costinha and Dani García form a solid duo, intercepting Barcelona’s crosses.
Recent history and tactical motivations
Barcelona and Olympiacos last met in 2017, with a 3-1 Catalan win in Greece. The hosts aim for a top-8 spot in the league phase after stumbling against PSG.
Olympiacos, ranked 29th, needs points to avoid early elimination. Mendilibar prioritizes a compact defense and quick transitions.
Flick adjusted the midfield with Casadó to counter breakaways. The 50,000-strong crowd boosts Barcelona.
Injuries impact both sides: Barcelona without Gavi and Olmo, Olympiacos missing Vezo and Cabella. These absences force defensive adjustments.
Catalan pressure and Greek responses
In the second half, Barcelona holds 62% possession, but Olympiacos exploits defensive errors. At 48 minutes, Fermín headed wide from a corner.
Podence drew a foul from Balde, who got a yellow at 23 minutes in the first half. The Greek remains dangerous in infiltrations.
Retsos blocked a Yamal shot at 17 minutes, keeping the scoreline at zero early on. The visitors rely on set pieces.
The match remains balanced, with Barcelona seeking a third goal to secure the win.
Cards and disciplinary incidents
Yellow cards pile up: Balde (23′), Hezze (35′), Dani García (39′), and Podence (55′). Schnyder keeps control without red cards so far.
Fouls concentrate in midfield: 12 for Olympiacos, 8 for Barcelona. This disrupts flow, favoring the hosts.
Nascimento, a substitute, fouled Casadó at 45 minutes. Mouzakitis balances the Greek midfield post-interval.
These incidents don’t halt the attacking pace but heighten tension.
Live coverage and next steps
The match heads toward the final minutes of the second half, with two minutes of added time in the first. Barcelona presses, Olympiacos resists.
Fans follow via TNT Sports, with odds favoring the Catalans (1.16 for a win). The game remains open.
