MADRID, March 7 -- A controversial Leo Messi penalty 10 minutes from time gave FC Barcelona a 1-0 win at home to Real Sociedad on Saturday night.

Messi scored his 19th goal of the season from the penalty spot after the VAR spotted a handball from Real Sociedad defender as the ball hit Robin Le Normand on his upper arm.

There was little doubt that the handball was accidental and hardly anyone appealed for a penalty, but recent decisions in Spain have penalized any contact between ball and arm and after looking at the action on the TV monitor, referee Martinez Munuera pointed to the spot.

Barca handed a first start to Martin Braithwaite in attack and the Dane responded with an energetic display and had the first shot of the game, which was well saved by visiting keeper Alex Remiro with his legs.

The first 45 minutes saw both sides produce entertaining football, but apart from Remiro's stop, neither keeper was called to make a difficult save before halftime, despite Alexander Isak seeing two efforts wide of the Barca post.

The second half saw Barca fans begin to show their impatience with their side as time progressed, while the visitors introduced Mikel Oyarzabal on the hour after the striker was rested following his side's midweek Copa del Rey game.

Remiro did well to save from an impressive Ivan Rakitic, while Ander Barrenetxea and Oyarzabal both sent efforts from the visitors wide.

The game could have been won by any of the two teams, but it was decided by the VAR after le Normand's handball although Jordi Alba saw a second goal ruled out for offside with the last kick of the game, which ended with fans showing expressing their anger at Barca club Josep Maria Bartomeu.

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