The suspension of the Barcelona vs. Benfica match in the second leg of the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League to allow fasting players to drink water has generated significant controversy, especially following a contentious comment from Spanish journalist Paco González, the director of the Tiempo de Juego program.

In the sixth minute of the match, the referee decided to grant a short break to allow Muslim players who were fasting to drink water, coinciding with sunset during the month of Ramadan.

Paco González commented on this decision, saying: "I find it excessive, especially since it's for a religious reason, and I don't know of any other religious reason that would cause a football match to be suspended. It's great that everyone has their own beliefs, but I don't know of any other religious reason that would lead to the suspension of a match."

González's statement sparked mixed reactions among fans and sports analysts, with some considering that respecting the players' religion is essential in the world of football, while others believed that suspending the match could set an unusual precedent in major European competitions.

Away from this controversy, Barcelona managed to win 3-1 thanks to a brace from Raphinha and a stunning goal from Lamine Yamal, securing their place in the quarter-finals, where they will face the winner of the Borussia Dortmund and Lille match.