Déjà vu in La Liga? Barcelona fans are seeing red after a controversial non-call denied them a clear penalty in their clash with Atlético Madrid.

With Barça leading 1-0 in the second half, Atlético's goalkeeper Musso played a short goal kick to defender Marc Pubill inside his own six-yard box. In a moment that stopped play, Pubill clearly used his hand to control and position the ball before taking the kick—an offense that, by the letter of the law, should result in an indirect free kick (or even a penalty, depending on interpretation) for the attacking team.

Despite vehement protests from Barcelona's players, referee István Kovács allowed play to continue, leaving manager Hansi Flick and his squad furious.

This incident is a near-carbon copy of a famous controversy from the 2023 Champions League quarter-finals. In that match, Arsenal's Gabriel Magalhães performed an almost identical handball before a goal kick against Bayern Munich. On that occasion, referee Glenn Nyberg infamously chose not to award a penalty, citing "the spirit of the game."

It appears Kovács made a similar judgment call today, prioritizing flow over a strict rule application. The decision sparked heated post-match discussions, highlighting the ongoing debate about consistency in football's biggest moments. For Barcelona, it's a painful case of history repeating itself.