Barça promised they would be very happy in the second leg of the Champions League quarterfinals against PSG, after Raphinha’s initial goal, but the tie became uphill for the Blaugrana after the rigorous expulsion of Ronald Araújo in the 29th minute of the match. An hour at a disadvantage against a French team that needed two goals to tie the series.
After a clearance by the French defense, the ball was free for Barcola who headed to the area. The Frenchman’s run, however, was interrupted by the Uruguayan, who put his arm on the shoulder of the PSG player to prevent his advance and when he was already unbalanced, the defender’s leg contacted the forward’s.
The referee of the match, the Romanian Istvan Kovács, did not hesitate to point out the foul at the edge of the area, very close to being a penalty, and being the player furthest back, he showed the direct red card to Araújo, who did not share the decision. The Uruguayan first defended that he was not the last player, that Cubarsí could block Barcola’s imminent shot.
Araújo continued to insist, this time arguing that it was a legal charge, a shoulder to shoulder collision. After many seconds, even minutes, Kovács did not listen to the explanations of an Araújo who left the field upset. Already on the sideline, the defender made a gesture with his hand that implied that the Romanian’s decision had been a robbery for Barça.
Xavi reacted immediately to Araújo’s expulsion and brought Iñigo Martínez onto the field to cover the hole in the center of the defense. The sacrifice was Lamine Yamal, an assistant after a great play on Raphinha’s goal. The tie went even more wrong ten minutes later, when Ousmane Dembélé scored the tying goal, his second goal against Barça after the first leg in Paris.
