Barcelona produced an excellent team performance away at Villarreal on Sunday night - but it might be a case of too little too late in terms of the title race.The Catalan giants sealed a 4-1 victory thanks to goals from Luis Suarez, Antoine Griezmann, Ansu Fati and a Pau Torres own goal.Lionel Messi, who produced a Man of the Match performance at the Estadio de la Cerámica, also had a goal disallowed midway through the second half.Messi’s goal was disallowed for an offside following a VAR review.Barça were already 3-1 up at this point, but Gerard Pique was clearly unimpressed with the decision.Spanish TV cameras picked up a curious gesture from the Barcelona centre-back moments after Messi’s goal was chalked off.
Watch it here and decide for yourself what he meant…
Spanish newspaper Marca suggest: “Pique made a gesture, which looked like drawing a line and typing on a keyboard, on the pitch as he stoked the flames of the controversy surrounding VAR in LaLiga Santander in recent games.”
Indeed, just hours earlier at San Mames, La Liga leaders Real Madrid were awarded a 73rd-minute penalty following a VAR review.
Sergio Ramos stepped up and scored from the spot to leave Los Blancos another significant step closer to the title.
"VAR isn't at the level that everyone wanted," Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu told Movistar, per Marca, following that particular decision.
”Post-lockdown, there have been lots of games that haven't been even and where the same [team] has been favoured, and many teams have been unlucky.
”VAR has to help the referee."During the last few games, everyone has seen the images where the VAR hasn't been used well."
Pique’s controversial gesture went down very well with Barcelona supporters on social media…
Some suggested that Pique was calling the referee - or the VAR - a puppet on a string with his gesture.
Pique was asked about the gesture by the media after the match, but he refused to reveal the meaning.
"I don't remember," the Barcelona veteran responded when asked about the gesture. "During the game, you do things with the adrenaline... I don't know what you're talking about."
