Penalty forgotten about Barcola? Nasri puts the whole of France on its back!

“Dominating” doesn’t always equate to winning. Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) had the upper hand last night against Liverpool in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16. Despite being the better side throughout the match, the Parisians left Parc des Princes with a 1-0 loss, a frustrating outcome that makes their task in the return leg more challenging. However, beyond the scoreline, one moment in particular has sparked discussions this morning: the clash between Bradley Barcola and Ibrahima Konate at the end of the first half. Some see it as a missed penalty, while Samir Nasri views it as a fair decision.

In the dying minutes of the first half, as PSG sought an equalizer, Bradley Barcola went down in the penalty area following a physical challenge from Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate. The PSG forward appeared to be off-balance due to the Reds’ defender, but the referee didn’t award a penalty. This decision quickly provoked reactions from players, fans, and pundits.

Some argue that it was a clear foul, and that a penalty would have altered the course of the match. Others, however, believe there was no reason to call a foul. This is particularly the view of Samir Nasri, the former French international and current Canal+ analyst.

Speaking on Canal’s Champions Club show, Nasri shared his straightforward analysis. He felt the referee made the correct call by not penalizing Konate’s tackle. “For me, it’s just like the Jonathan Rowe vs. Gaela Doue and Strasbourg situation. It wasn’t called there, so why should it be here? It’s a slight challenge, and in England, they don’t whistle for that.”

This perspective differs sharply from that of many Parisian fans and commentators, who believe their team was denied a crucial equalizer. Despite the loss, PSG is still in the tie. A goal down heading to Anfield isn’t an impossible hurdle, but Luis Enrique’s side must be sharper and avoid repeating the mistakes that cost them dearly last night. Whether this controversial moment will linger in the players’ minds ahead of the return leg remains to be seen, but it has certainly sparked debate in the aftermath of the match.