The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology played a key role in determining the fate of the Spanish Football League title for the current season 2022-2023.
Barcelona was crowned the Spanish League title 4 rounds before the end of the competition, after its great victory over its arch-neighbor Espanyol, 4-2, in the 34th round, on May 14, so that its remaining matches became just a foregone conclusion.
The difference between Barcelona and its second rival, Real Madrid, was 14 points, before it now shrinks to 11, because the champion lost two consecutive matches against Real Sociedad and Valladolid, while Real Madrid was defeated by Valencia, and then won against Rayo Vallecano.
If VAR did not exist in La Liga, Real Madrid would be the league leaders, with 78 points. Barca would have 75 points.
— @mundodeportivo pic.twitter.com/zvbGcbXwgo
– Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) May 25, 2023
According to the newspaper “Mundo Deportivo” (Mundo Deportivo) Spanish that without the presence of video assistant technology, the situation in La Liga would have turned this season.
And she explained that in that case, Barcelona would not be the champion with the end of the 36th round matches, but rather went further than that, certainly the rival Real Madrid would be the leader.
And with the loss of Barcelona from Valladolid, and before Real Madrid’s match against Rayo Vallecano, the two rivals will be tied on points, and therefore the lead will be Madrid, given the results of the direct confrontations in the League.
The newspaper pointed out that in the season in which the “Negrera case” exploded, the difference of 14 points (11 currently) would have disappeared from the table had it not been for the presence of the “mouse”.
She explained that Barcelona’s balance would have fallen to 75 points instead of 85, as would its rival Real Madrid with 78 points, two rounds before the end.
Barcelona succeeded in winning the Spanish League title for the 27th time in its history, and the first since the 2018-2019 season.
🥳🏆 Barcelona’s 27th La Liga title crowning ceremony#La Liga | #Barcelona
#LaLigaSantander pic.twitter.com/x3eh4xoRaO– beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) May 20, 2023
Barcelona has two matches left this season: the first of them is against Real Mallorca next Sunday, and it will be the last for the team at the Camp Nou stadium, which will be closed in order to start the development process, to be reopened partially in the 2024-2025 season.
Barcelona will travel to Balaidos Stadium to face Celta Vigo in the final match of the current season, while Real Madrid will play against Seville and Athletic Bilbao.