‘Lamine Yamal provoked him’ – Manuel Pellegrini blasts ‘lamentable’ referee after Barcelona loss

· BarcaBlaugranes

Real Betis manager Manuel Pellegrini was unhappy at seeing Facundo Bernal sent off during Saturday’s 5-2 defeat to Barcelona. Bernal saw red for clashing and headbutting Lamine Yamal but Pellegrini felt the Barcelona star provoked the confrontation between the pair. Pellegrini also hit out at several other decisions that went against his team on Saturday […]

Real Betis manager Manuel Pellegrini was unhappy at seeing Facundo Bernal sent off during Saturday’s 5-2 defeat to Barcelona.

Bernal saw red for clashing and headbutting Lamine Yamal but Pellegrini felt the Barcelona star provoked the confrontation between the pair.

Pellegrini also hit out at several other decisions that went against his team on Saturday night.

> “The truth is, I thought the referee’s performance was lamentable, lacking any footballing sense. His decisions conditioned the match. Lamine scored a great goal, we had the equalizer and almost the goal that would have put us ahead,” he said.

> “The goal that was disallowed was a handball because Cucho was pushed, and besides, it didn’t affect the goal… Then, in the other goal, the Barcelona player’s foot was at head height, and it was a goal.

> “And what decided the match was the sending-off: Lamine provoked it, and the other player retaliated. Neither of them committed a foul; both were called over, and both were shown cards. That was the end of the game. We had a very good performance. I won’t give my opinion; the images speak for themselves.”

The victory means Barcelona continue their perfect start to the season and stay top, while Real Betis have suffered just their second defeat of the campaign so far.

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