Barcelona restored their lead over Real Madrid to nine points in La Liga on Sunday after a late VAR decision went their way.

Barcelona beat Athletic Bilbao 1-0 after a video review disallowed an 87th-minute goal by Bilbao forward Iñaki Williams for a handball in the buildup. VAR also was used to confirm Barcelona’s winning goal by Raphinha after it was initially disallowed for offside.

“I thought they were looking at offsides, but then I saw it on the video board, and I think it was a handball,” Barcelona coach Xavi said.

Williams laughed at the decision on Twitter after the game.

“We are upset,” Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde said. “Nobody on the field had seen anything, not even the referee or the fourth official or the other assistants.”

Madrid had moved to six points off the lead with a 3-1 win at Espanyol at home on Saturday. Barcelona and Madrid play the final league ‘Clasico’ next week at Camp Nou.

Raphinha scored the winner in first-half stoppage time with a shot from inside the area after a superb pass by Sergio Busquets.

The lineman raised his flag but video review determined the Brazil forward was in a legal position.

Real Betis and Villarreal dropped points in their bid for Champions League places after a 1-1 draw.

Roma hopes dented

Ten-man AS Roma’s chances of qualifying for next season’s Champions League took a hit as they suffered a 4-3 Serie A defeat in a goalfest at home to Sassuolo on Sunday.

The loss meant Roma missed the chance to jump into third place and instead they are fifth, level on 47 points with fourth-placed AC Milan who host Salernitana on Monday.