Xavi and Barcelona star slam La Liga over goal-line technology after El Clasico incident

Lamine Yamal thought he'd given Barcelona a 2-1 lead in El Clasico when his flicked effort was stopped by Real Madrid's Andriy Lunin from behind his line, but La Liga don't have goal-line technology

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Barcelona manager Xavi and goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen have both hit out at La Liga's "embarrassing" lack of goal-line technology following their controversial El Clasico defeat.

After Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior had cancelled out Andreas Christensen's sixth-minute opener in Sunday's clash, Barca thought they'd regained the lead on the half-hour mark when Lamine Yamal flicked Raphinha's low in-swinging corner towards goal. Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin scrambled behind his line to palm the ball away and Barcelona immediately appealed for a goal as the Bernabeu sat on tenterhooks.

Attention turned towards referee Cesar Soto but unlike in the Premier League, there was no signal coming from his watch. That's because goal-line technology was deemed too expensive to implement in the Spanish top flight.

There wasn't even a hawk-eye camera angle to determine if the ball had indeed crossed the line, so the on-field officials and VAR were unable to come to a conclusive decision after three minutes of reviewing. Play resumed with Barca still incensed and after falling to a 3-2 loss thanks to Jude Bellingham's 91st-minute winner, which all but ends their hopes of retaining the La Liga title, both Xavi and Ter Stegen vented their frustration.

"I can't find the words to explain what happened on the goal line," the Barcelona goalkeeper bemoaned. "It's embarrassing for football. There is a lot of money in this industry, but not for what is important. I don't understand how there cannot be money to implement the technology that other leagues have."

Ter Stegen's manager - who's never one to shy away from his opinions on referees - was on the same page. "I completely agree with him," Xavi fumed after Barca's third defeat to Real this season and his final Clasico before leaving the club this summer.

"It's embarrassing that there is not goal-line technology. If we want to say this is the best league in the world, we need it. Everyone has seen it. What can I say? [The league] can sanction me. The images are there."

Your turn! Do you think Lamine Yamal's shot crossed the line? Let us know your verdict in the comments section

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The Barcelona boss also criticised ref Soro's decision to award a penalty for Madrid's first equaliser. Lucas Vazquez beat Joao Cancelo going into the box and went tumbling over the outstretched leg of Pau Cubarsi, although there was debate as to whether Vazquez moved his leg towards the 17-year-old defender and took the contact.

"The feeling today is of complete injustice," Xavi added. "I said before the match that I hoped the referee would go unnoticed and get the decisions right. In the end, neither of the two have happened."

Only eight days ago, La Liga president Javier Tebas responded to criticism regarding the division's lack of goal-line technology by posting various news stories of when it'd gone wrong in other leagues on X/Twitter. There's been a series of attempts by multiple outlets and broadcasters to clear up the Clasico confusion, although none are official.

Barca did eventually take a 2-1 lead midway through the second half when substitute Fermin Lopez capitalised on Lunin spilling Yamal's shot and slotted home. Real responded quickly, though, as right-back Vazquez snuck in behind Cancelo to convert Vinicius Jr's cross.

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Then came the moment for Bellingham to effectively win the title for Los Blancos, as his back-post strike sent Carlo Ancelotti's side 11 points clear of second-place Barcelona. With six games left of the La Liga season, Real can now shift their focus to the Champions League semi-finals, where they'll face Bayern Munich.

For Barca - who were dumped out of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain last week after losing the second leg 4-1 at home - it's all about cementing second place to qualify for the Spanish Super Cup next season. "We have to digest this defeat and think about Valencia in our next game," Xaxi affirmed.

"There are still six matches to play, and there is work to be done. The objective is to be in the Super Cup again next season. La Liga is 38 games long, and you have to congratulate [Real]. They have had just one defeat all season, and the title is practically done now."

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