How do you shoot yourself in the foot? Otherwise, ask Ronald Araujo, defender at Barcelona. And on April 16, 2024, officially declared a master of self-sabotage. Until the Uruguayan simply decided to take red, PSG seemed to have to leave the Champions League early. Once again. After the 2-3 in the Parc des Princes, it flirted with defeat again. However, the French champion monopolized the ball, but the center was completely closed. Mbappé was nowhere, entangled in a Catalan web.
With the first decent counter-punch – one in which Mbappé ostentatiously did not defend – Barça already took the lead. Yamal pushed through on the right, left Nuno Mendes on the spot and crossed. Raphinha pushed in without meaning to. With his supporting leg: 1-0.
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PSG faced a two-goal gap after less than fifteen minutes. Was this Mbappé’s European farewell in the PSG shirt? It would be a sad ending. See you just before half an hour. Araujo placed his hand on the shoulders of the broken through Bradley Barcola, just outside the box. Red, without discussion. After which Xavi was forced to bring Yamal to the side, for a defender, Iñigo Martinez. Barça’s pilot light went out there, but no one noticed.
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The match turned completely upside down. Not by Mbappé, who had only briefly threatened with a header. Under the impetus of Barcola, the 21-year-old wing attacker who was taken away from Lyon last summer for 45 million. Everyone missed the ball on a wonderful cross from him, except Dembélé at the far post: 1-1. Sweet revenge for the flute concerts he had to endure. Just before half-time, the ex-Barça player almost scored a second goal, but his shot narrowly missed the goal.
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PSG smelled blood and rightly so. Barcelona, in the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time since the traumatic 2-8 against Bayern Munich in 2020, limited itself solely to defending. It was nowhere left and hoped to survive a half against PSG.
Which didn’t work. Barcelona were constantly tormented on the flanks. After Ter Stegen just missed a shot from Hakimi and Fabian Ruiz also aimed just wide, every bonus was erased forty minutes before the end after a dry shot from Vitinha: 1-2.
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Only then did Barcelona respond, with Gündogan licking the post. Xavi went crazy, got red and moments later the death blow followed, barely four minutes after the 1-2. Cancelo, also at fault at 1-1, brought down Dembélé. Penalty, converted by Mbappé: 1-3. The future Real star, also targeted by the supporters, walked towards supporters to claim his role as Barça executioner. However, his share was limited to the absolute minimum.
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Extensions seemed far away. No one would now beg that coach Xavi withdraw his announced retirement. No one believed that this Barça, too mediocre in the competition to keep Real from the title, was still capable of a resurrection. Even if Ferran Torres was brought in. Even though Gündogan tried in vain to score a penalty. Even if Lewandowski forced goalkeeper Donnarumma into a real save. Even if Raphinha aimed wide. Even though there was panic in the French sixteen and Donnarumma boxed wide of a ball.
No, after a quick counter-punch from Hakimi, Mbappé took away the doubts in the end with the 1-4, which fortunately fell at his feet after he had already aimed at Ter Stegen. Cameras flashed, Mbappé demanded the spotlight. To be fair, he barely deserved that, despite his two goals. He is in the semi-finals.
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