Elche charges the referee for his decision with Kessié

Elche left the Spotify Camp Nou with another thrashing conceded and remains bottom of the table after the first six LaLiga games. Francisco Rodríguez Vílchez was able to experience his last game as coach of the 'blanquiverde' team on Saturday, a game in which he ended up being sent off after losing his composure due to refereeing by Alejandro Muñiz Ruiz. The principal was highly questioned by the visitors, mainly in terms of the administration of the reprimands.

The main judge was right to expel Gonzalo Verdú in the 13th minute for a clear infraction by the Elche captain when Robert Lewandowski escaped alone into the area. The center-back, the last man, cut off an obvious scoring action and the VAR was right in not interfering with the Galician referee's decision. However, with the passing of the minutes, other controversial plays arrived that unhinged the visiting coach and his team.

"How are we going to shoot more if a player is sent off in 13'. I only have one word: pride. We have given everything. With one less it is almost impossible. What have we lacked? One more man. The details do not tell us they have helped", midfielder Gerard Gumbau told the 'DAZN' network as soon as the game ended. In addition to Verdú's expulsion, the 'blanquiverdes' claimed a red card for Franck Kessié, who had been reprimanded in minute 3 for a clear elbow strike to striker Lucas Boyé.

Around minute 28, the entire Elche defense asked for a red card for the Frenchman after a slap at John Nwankwo. Kessié controlled the ball with his back to the goal and extended his arms, lightly hitting the central defender's face. Muñiz Ruiz was right to mark the infraction without showing the second yellow card to the culé player, since it was not an intentional infraction or one that was abrupt enough to cause the midfielder to be expelled.

Pedri's goal unhinged Francisco

Barça's two goals in the first half were reviewed and validated by the VAR, due to the possible offside doubt. Both in Lewandowski's goal from a pass from Alejandro Balde and in Memphis Depay's remarkable definition with his back to the goal (also assisted by Balde), the VAR confirmed that the Catalan forwards were just above the blue line, clearing up doubts due to offside.

When Pedri took advantage of a rebound from Edgar Badía to make it 3-0 at 43', Francisco lost what little patience he had left and charged with everything against Muñiz Ruiz. The principal had no choice but to expel the Elche coach, who went to the locker room to see how the VAR this time did annul the culé goal for clearly offside for the Canarian midfielder. Hard defeat for the visitors and tremendous anger against the main judge, justified in this case in the frustration of the team that is still bottom of the table with just 1 point in six days.