Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling scored late on as the Premier League champions came from behind to win in Germany
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was left content by the impact of the Video Assistant Referee [VAR] after a controversial night in the Champions League last-16.
Guardiola saw his side go in 2-1 down at the break against Schalke thanks to two Nabil Bentaleb penalties, the first of which was awarded after a three-minute delay to check a handball by Nicolas Otamendi - who was booked and later sent off.
Referee Carlos del Cerro Grande, who was unable to re-check the incident due to faulty pitch-side screens, was at the centre of the uncertainty.
Technology had earlier helped City take the lead through Sergio Aguero after Schalke appealed for a foul in the build-up to the goal.
But after Leroy Sane's stunning free-kick and Raheem Sterling's 90th minute winner, Guardiola was keen to praise the VAR.
"I am a big fan of VAR," the Spaniard told the media after the 3-2 success. "It's a penalty. The second one is a penalty too. Offside too. And the red card can be a red card.
"The result is good, but itβs not over. Hopefully, our fans can help us in the second leg and hopefully, we can improve."
VAR also overshadowed Atletico Madrid's win over Juventus, after Alvaro Morata's header was chalked off for an apparent foul on Giorgio Chiellini.
City rode their luck on the way to take a significant advantage into the second leg.
After Bentaleb had cancelled out Aguero's opener, the ex-Tottenham playmaker doubled his tally again from the spot after Fernandinho had felled by Salif Sane.
Otamendi was dismissed on 68 minutes but Sane's brilliance drew the Premier League champions level before Sterling' late intervention.
Guardiola added: "I am delighted with the performance. We came here to sit back and defend? No way!
"The opponents didn't do too much. The opponents are good my friends.
"They have the quality to create problems. And they didn't do too much. We played 20 mins 10 v 11."
kuedemrs
1
Guardiola have a big meind
MichaelCorentin
3
Everything is not done we still have the second leg schalke and make sure u don't wear the blue jerseys.... We may mistake you from Chelsea
follower
0
U mentioned that var favours Messi n Barca fans...
no, i didn't say that. i said that your fans will not support var uefa until UEFA favours your team . this is what i meant. i don't want to be controversial
Shantanukalita
0
did i said messi? why are you trying to create something i didn't even say? i only said referees which refers as a general for all teams. i didn't specify one ( peace).....
U mentioned that var favours Messi n Barca fans...
wiaadep
0
no, var is not good and fair unless it favours messi and barcelona fans. then they will support it. by their logic: la Liga's is better than UEFA's
absolutely nonsense, talk about ur now, rubbish
wiaadep
4
this man is great
follower
0
We understand you as an arsenal fan... We understand your frustrations
just because i said the truth, you are saying i understand your frustrations. ok man united are playing currently better, so was emery at the beginning of the season. if you think you are back to you where you belong and will compete for trophies next season, you are just overconfident. finally, man united board are similar to ours. both of them target is profit but in a different way. the difference is you are spending billions, while we are spending cheap. ole would turn into a failure in the future due to the board not backing him and players are uninterested. gattuso was like that, but the change of ownership improved him. ac Milan players are currently backed and motivated by Paulo Maldini, Ricardo Kaka, etc..... to perform at their best. look where they are now, they are starting to return back to where they belong ( peace)....
follower
0
Stop the nonsense... About Messi favour.... Absolutely uefa referee is stupid referee ever....
did i said messi? why are you trying to create something i didn't even say? i only said referees which refers as a general for all teams. i didn't specify one ( peace).....
follower
0
Idk how they will do without Messi. Barca will always be a big team but messi has won 4 out of 5 champions league titles for Barca. But Barca are trying their best to get young players to make the best team for the future.
yes, they are a big club, but your board are not acting like a one. you have two world class players called dembele and Coutinho, yet your team can't combine and fit them together. coutinho plays the fabregas role, yet is not used properly. finally, your team are struggling to win away in the recent years, history proves it. roma 3-0 barcelona, psg 4-0 barcelona, lyon 0-0 Barcelona. if your team win the champions league this season, i am ready to apologize and admit that i was wrong. i doubt it, i can predict the future. i called it Liverpool will struggle without van djik against bayern munich, look what happened : their defense was confused, they were lucky they didn't had end product. i called atletico madrid will win against juventus. look what happened, cristiano ronaldo couldn't do anything. there are many results i called it but i think is enough ( peace).........
kaaskip
0
as always Barca fans defend each other, they are not willing to say the truth. why don't you say that van Persie red card against your team was controversial? this is because you are afraid to say the truth but i am not afraid to say it. i admit that we got some controversial decision that helped us become the invincibles but it is nothing comparing to your teams. finally, every team got their downfall, your team will be soon, while us will soon realize kroenke is the main problem. wenger is no longer behind him. ( peace)......
Broiam saying that he saod stupid things lol i was not defending him at all!
fiycdopuyz
2
pep has become a child .
fiycdopuyz
2
the true word will come out one day not long from now
Shantanukalita
0
ok thank you for wishing me best luck, but var uefa is installed to remove the mess referees were doing. they are so far succeeding, it is better than la liga's. so let's accept their decision and stop involving corruption in everything. let's enjoy and appreciate the beauty of the game. ( peace).....
Stop the nonsense... About Messi favour.... Absolutely uefa referee is stupid referee ever....
follower
0
But still he is 3 time man of the week in this UCL season... π... Before leaving Barca Messi will make Barca strong... Like dinho did for us.... π π.. Best of luck for next bate vs match... 1st one is 1β£ :0β£ ππlet's celebrate it...
ok thank you for wishing me best luck, but var uefa is installed to remove the mess referees were doing. they are so far succeeding, it is better than la liga's. so let's accept their decision and stop involving corruption in everything. let's enjoy and appreciate the beauty of the game. ( peace).....
pazacelor
4
var is not gud at all
follower
0
What a stupid guy he is. Morata clearly pushed Chiellini although it was a light push he did push Chiellini. And i would say Alex Sandro should be sent off for second yellow not Bentancur.
as always Barca fans defend each other, they are not willing to say the truth. why don't you say that van Persie red card against your team was controversial? this is because you are afraid to say the truth but i am not afraid to say it. i admit that we got some controversial decision that helped us become the invincibles but it is nothing comparing to your teams. finally, every team got their downfall, your team will be soon, while us will soon realize kroenke is the main problem. wenger is no longer behind him. ( peace)......
Shantanukalita
0
ok we are not in the champions league because we have kroenke, while your team have messi is aging and teams are figuring how to stop him. when he retires, lets see how barca will perform ( peace)....
But still he is 3 time man of the week in this UCL season... π... Before leaving Barca Messi will make Barca strong... Like dinho did for us.... π π.. Best of luck for next bate vs match... 1st one is 1β£ :0β£ ππlet's celebrate it...
Vowacekn
3
Man City for live. this year is our year
Kpane
4
Pep you are too much
kaaskip
0
ok we are not in the champions league because we have kroenke, while your team have messi is aging and teams are figuring how to stop him. when he retires, lets see how barca will perform ( peace)....
Idk how they will do without Messi. Barca will always be a big team but messi has won 4 out of 5 champions league titles for Barca. But Barca are trying their best to get young players to make the best team for the future.
Shantanukalita
0
go see my own reply then comment back
π π... Ur eyes is better than referee and something... Owl eyes. π π One match against Chelsea and this dumb comment... Plz watch all matches Madrid and others team too.... May be u doesn't watch ucl.... Bcz arsenal in europa league ππ.... Uefa sponsor is Adidas, fifa and ea sports and Adidas and ea sports is partner Madrid... Barca's sponsor is rakuteen, Konami, etc etc... So no way that Barca can favour ucl u fool..
kaaskip
0
go see my own reply then you can comment back.
What a stupid guy he is. Morata clearly pushed Chiellini although it was a light push he did push Chiellini. And i would say Alex Sandro should be sent off for second yellow not Bentancur.
follower
0
you are not even in champions league hahaha!
ok we are not in the champions league because we have kroenke, while your team have messi is aging and teams are figuring how to stop him. when he retires, lets see how barca will perform ( peace)....
cozadilmop
1
VAR not helping the game at all
follower
0
lol shut up
go see my own reply then you can comment back.
Fiocdelmnz
3
am not proud of VAR
follower
0
Stick on europa..
go see my own reply then comment back
follower
0
no, var is not good and fair unless it favours messi and barcelona fans. then they will support it. by their logic: la Liga's is better than UEFA's
for all people that is thinking i am just trolling, here is the proof i am not
Cesaenops
4
pep you're extra ordinary
tatbtuy
1
no, var is not good and fair unless it favours messi and barcelona fans. then they will support it. by their logic: la Liga's is better than UEFA's
We understand you as an arsenal fan... We understand your frustrations
Woweiklmop
2
VAR loved by pep because of win...... pep
kaaskip
2
no, var is not good and fair unless it favours messi and barcelona fans. then they will support it. by their logic: la Liga's is better than UEFA's
you are not even in champions league hahaha!
kaaskip
2
no, var is not good and fair unless it favours messi and barcelona fans. then they will support it. by their logic: la Liga's is better than UEFA's
lol shut up
Shantanukalita
2
no, var is not good and fair unless it favours messi and barcelona fans. then they will support it. by their logic: la Liga's is better than UEFA's
Stick on europa..
Wowmnopuz
0
Lol if you lost you would not be saying that
yaah, His blood different from Mou's
cityzenhaywhy
0
Lol if you lost you would not be saying that
he isn't Jose
Keuadlnou
1
unfortunatly VAR isn't in Premiere league or you citych gonna be under top 6 .
remember Liverpool have scored many offside goals this season including the winner in the westham game
alvisfreshly963
3
Just like Pep loving VAR. So, the VAR live him back !π
follower
1
no, var is not good and fair unless it favours messi and barcelona fans. then they will support it. by their logic: la Liga's is better than UEFA's
kacabdlmpr
3
pep you do all
Patrick Myanmar
3
I doubt that Pep would say the same if they lost. π But still don't expect Pep would say any negative things neither.
12UnitedGuyReborn
1
unfortunatly VAR isn't in Premiere league or you citych gonna be under top 6 .
how?????
12UnitedGuyReborn
6
I love pep,,, a coach that can tweak a formation more than 3 times in one game,,, not like the naughty professor we call coach at Chelsea.... I call him the Messi of Coaches
Sarri is a good coach he has won UCL, EPL, Seria A, World Cup and many more in his ps4 already Hats off to him
12UnitedGuyReborn
5
VAR has mostly been crap so far and sometimes delays the game for unnecessary reasons refs now just ask VAR for everything and waste time
HarithHaziq
3
If lose what should he said Stupid VAR may be
AngelBhusalBarçafan
2
unfortunatly VAR isn't in Premiere league or you citych gonna be under top 6 .
You mean Liverpool
Anooor
2
unfortunatly VAR isn't in Premiere league or you citych gonna be under top 6 .
Holton101
4
Lol if you lost you would not be saying that
Zutbcir
1
I hare theVAR after Ajax was not geven a proper goal against Real last week! Better let the people on the pitch decide without the risk UEFA helps certain teams win unfairly.
Yorokiri
10
I love pep,,, a coach that can tweak a formation more than 3 times in one game,,, not like the naughty professor we call coach at Chelsea.... I call him the Messi of Coaches