Abdullah Al-Haqim 
Argentine striker Julian Alvarez, Atletico Madrid player, passed a difficult night after the penalty kick he fired at his team farewell to the Champions League from the round of 16 against the neighbor Real Madrid. After the match ended with the two teams tied 2-2 in the total of the home and away matches, so that the qualification will be resolved thanks to the penalty shootout 4-2 in favor of the royal team.
The Polish referee canceled the goal scored by Alvarez from the penalty kick after referring to the “VAR” video referee, due to a double touch on the ball after Alvarez slipped while the kick was executed. “Although there was slight friction, the player touched the ball using his standing foot before kicking it,” the European Football Association (Wiva) said in a statement.
Alvarez published a message through his accounts on social media, in which he expressed his feelings after what happened in Wednesday’s match at Atletico Madrid. Despite everything that happened, the Argentine striker congratulated Real Madrid for qualifying for the quarter -finals of the championship.
Atletico Madrid striker said: “It is painful to bid farewell to the Champions League after we did our best and fought until the last minute.
Alvarez also showed a high sporting spirit by sending congratulations to Real Madrid, saying: “Congratulations to Real Madrid to qualify.”
On the other hand, Diego Simeone, coach of Atletico Madrid, stated that he wanted to believe that the referees made the right decision regarding the penalty kick. He said: “I have never seen a penalty kick that VAR was called to review, but perhaps they saw that he touched it. I want to believe that. I want to believe that they saw that he touched it.”
Simeone added: “Let anyone raise his hand if he sees Julian touched the ball twice.
It is noteworthy that Alvarez joined the ranks of Atletico Madrid during the last summer Mercato from Manchester City, and he quickly succeeded in becoming one of the main players in coach Diego Simeone’s squad thanks to his strong levels.
After leaving the Champions League, Atletico Madrid’s focus will head towards its next match against Barcelona, to be held next Sunday evening, in the twenty -eighth stage of the Spanish League.
