Osasuna manager questions penalty vs Barcelona: “Is that enough for him to fall down?’

Osasuna manager Jagoba Arrasate has lashed out at Barcelona forward Robert Lewandowski, calling out the Poland international for his behaviour during the penalty incident.

Sunday’s game between Barcelona and Osasuna had no shortage of drama. The game looked like heading for a draw but with only a handful of minutes left in regulation time, Barcelona were awarded a penalty, which was duly capitalized by Lewandowski, resulting in a win for the Blaugrana.

The incident, which involved Lewandowski and Alejandro Catena ended with the latter receiving his marching orders. 

After the 35-year-old had gone down to the ground following a tussle with Catena, the referee’s immediate reaction was a caution. VAR’s intervention, however, turned the events as Catena was then sent off.

“We are always in the same degree of intensity. Is that enough for Lewandowski to fall down like that? For me, it’s not a penalty or a red card. It’s an instinctive gesture, I don’t think it’s enough to call a penalty,” Arrasate was quoted by Mundo Deportivo.

“I think we played a great game. The pity is that we have do not have the reward that I think could have received going into the league break. The last play before the break does a lot of damage since. 

“It makes you angry. They score you a goal in the corner and when we tie that goal, five minutes from the end that little grab [changed everything]. You can do something more, but today was not our day,” he added.

The win against Osasuna was quite crucial for Barcelona as a draw would have given Real Madrid an early advantage in the league. The penalty, on the other hand, might have been controversial, but as they say in football, a win is a win, no matter how or by how many.