Las Palmas Did Not Deserve Their Penalty – Ernesto Valverde

Ernesto Valverde was left shocked as to why a second-half penalty was awarded in Las Palmas’ favour as Barcelona’s lead at the top of La Liga was cut to five points.

Even after the game, Barca’s players claimed they hadn’t been informed why it had been awarded, with a Lucas Digne handball or a Sergi Roberto pull on Matias Aguirregaray the two most likely possibilities.

Jonathan Calleri scored from the spot to earn his side a vital 1-1 draw in their fight against relegation.

“We don’t know what the referee gave the penalty for,” Valverde said in his postgame news conference. “In the dressing room, no one knows. We don’t understand what he’s blown for, it’s unexplainable.

“Maybe when we see it on the television it will clear up what the decision was for. It was an invisible penalty. It did us a lot of damage — for how it was given and the sensation it left us with.

“Las Palmas defended well, we tried to break them down but as the game progressed there was less rhythm and it got more and more difficult.”

Valverde was also incensed by Lahoz’s failure to spot a handball by Las Palmas goalkeeper Leandro Chichizola just before half-time, after he appeared to use his hand when outside of his area to stop Luis Suarez having a free run at goal, but was not penalised.

“I spoke with [Lahoz] at half-time,” Valverde added. “It was a clear handball outside the area and he’s not seen it. For me, it was clear, although I imagine it was different for [Las Palmas coach Paco] Jemez.”