The strike would have hauled the sides level at 2-2, coming a mere four minutes after Rodri had restored Barça's lead. Following a deflected effort from Abde, Giovani Lo Celso lashed home a sublime volley from the edge of the box, only for the wonder strike to be wiped out following an intervention from the VAR hub, overseen by Carlos del Cerro Grande.

"Ricardo, I recommend an on-field review for a potential handball in the APP [attacking possession phase]," the Madrid-born official informed De Burgos Bengoetxea. "We observed that the Real Betis forward, number '9', makes an additional movement to control the ball. I'll show you two camera angles so you can see this motion," he added.

Replays confirmed that 'Cucho' Hernandez handled the ball as the sequence developed towards the back of the net. "For us, it is in the same attacking phase," Del Cerro Grande reiterated, pinpointing the critical and contentious issue. Real Betis, however, argued that 13 seconds had elapsed and two rebounds had occurred before the ball crossed the line.

Referee De Burgos Bengoetxea concurred with the VAR room, explaining his final verdict: "For me, the handball is punishable. It is the same attacking phase because FC Barcelona never gain control or possession of the ball. I am going to disallow the goal and restart with a direct free-kick to Barcelona."