“Club Brugge have been robbed!” - 3-time Ballon d’Or winner accuses Barcelona of stealing point after disallowed goal

3-time Ballon d’Or winner Marco van Basten delivered a blistering critique of the decision that disallowed Club Brugge’s goal in the final minute of the Champions League match against Barcelona, insisting the Belgian side were ‘robbed.’ Barcelona and Club Brugge settled for a stalemate in a six-goal thriller at Jan Breydel Stadium on Wednesday.

The Spanish giants were made to come from behind three times as Brugge effectively capitalized on their weak high-line approach. Nicky Hayen’s men raced to an early lead as Nicolo Tresoldi opened the scoring just six minutes into proceedings. Barcelona, however, responded immediately through Ferran Torres.

Midway through the first half, Carlos Forbs put Club Brugge in front again from a devastating counterattack. Barcelona couldn’t respond before the first half whistle as the hosts took their lead into the break. The Catalans came into the second half cranking up the pressure, and they were back on level terms just after the hour mark, courtesy of Lamine Yamal.

Just under two minutes after Yamal’s equalizer, Forbs put Brugge in front for a third time, scoring his second goal of the night. Brugge would only go on to succumb to Barcelona’s pressure minutes later, when Christos Szolis headed the ball into his own net to put the LaLiga side level once more.

Substitute Romeo Vermant appeared to have won it for the hosts in stoppage time after goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny failed to clear his lines. However, the goal was ruled out for a foul after VAR controversially adjudged that Vermant had tripped Szczesny before scoring, igniting outrage.

Speaking on the disallowed goal, Van Basten said that Vermant’s strike should have stood, insisting that the Belgian forward didn’t foul Szczesny.

"Club Brugge have been robbed! The goal for 4-3 should have counted. He doesn't foul Szczesny, he doesn't even touch him! It's Szczesny himself who makes it look like a foul, but it wasn't," the AC Milan legend shared his thoughts on Dutch television.

“Obviously we have to improve” – Eric Garcia on Barcelona’s 3-3 draw with Club Brugge

Barcelona defender Eric Garcia admitted that teams are causing them a lot of problems with counterattacks after their dramatic 3-3 draw with Club Brugge. He told Movistar after the game:

“Teams are causing us a lot of danger with counter-attacks, with two passes they are in our area. Obviously we have to improve. Today the team reacted well, we had lots of chances. But when you score, and then they immediately hit back, it’s tough to take. But we have to keep going, that’s all we can do.

The Spaniard added:

“I don’t think its about the defenders — we all attack, we all defend. Sometimes we have losses of possession, in difficult areas, which make it easier for opponents (to counter) which is something we need to stop doing.”

The result meant Barca have seven points from their first four outings. They will face Chelsea in their next UCL match.