Barcelona’s Champions League aspirations crumbled spectacularly within the quarter-finals towards Paris Saint-Germain, with Xavi Hernandez laying the blame squarely on the referee, Istvan Kovacs. The Catalans, poised with a slim mixture lead, discovered their benefit overturned following a controversial purple card to Ronald Araujo. At that second, Barcelona was forward, however the dismissal turned the tide, resulting in a 4-1 defeat on the evening and a 6-4 mixture loss.
Xavi didn’t mince phrases post-match, labeling Kovacs’ choice as a “catastrophe” and accusing it of derailing Barcelona’s total season. This dramatic flip of occasions additionally noticed Xavi himself receiving a purple card, including to the chaotic scene at Estadi Olimpic.
Fast Hits:
Flash Level: The purple card to Araujo was pivotal, shifting the momentum and unraveling Barca’s tactical setup.
Xavi’s Response: The Barca coach vehemently criticized the referee’s name, which he believes price his group dearly.
Season Stakes: The defeat leaves Barcelona trophyless, with solely a slim likelihood to overturn their fortunes within the upcoming El Clasico towards Actual Madrid.
As Barcelona gears up for his or her remaining showdown with Actual Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu, the stakes couldn’t be greater. A victory is essential not only for league hopes, but additionally for salvaging delight in a season marred by what Xavi perceives as refereeing injustices.
