Barcelona Survives 95th Minute Scare, Thanks to VAR

A last-minute VAR decision helped Barcelona secure an unconvincing 1-0 La Liga win over newly-promoted Valladolid on Saturday.

After Ousmane Dembele gave the last season champion a 1-0 lead in the 57th minute, Keko thought he had snatched a stoppage time equalizer for Valladolid but was denied the goal as the video assistant referee ruled that the winger had netted from an offside position.

Durign the match, former Barca academy keeper Jordi Masip spectacularly denied Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho, Reuters reported.

There was nothing Masip could do when Dembele fired in from Sergi Roberto’s knockdown 10 minutes after the restart.

With the game in the balance, Valladolid appeared the more likely winner, going close a number of times.

But Keko blew his side’s major opening when he headed straight at Marc-Andre ter Stegen with minutes remaining.

Suarez then beat Masip but was flagged offside, before the keeper kept out an effort from substitute Malcom as the home side pushed on and Barca looked to play on the counter.