The final is gone, the prize money is flying, a red card ruined everything, and Barcelona suffered a big reversal to stop the quarterfinals
After the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals, the long-lost La Liga giants Barcelona have a 18.4% chance of winning the title, second only to the defending champion Manchester City and the second favorite to win the Champions League in the 2023/24 season.
This situation made Barcelona fans cry. Fans are already dreaming of the club's first Champions League final in 10 years, and it is not impossible to go all out and reach the top of Europe again. So much so that from President Laporta to ordinary fans, they are all preparing to retain coach Xavi, who has announced his resignation at the end of the season in advance.
Tens of thousands of Barcelona fans gathered at the Stadio Olimpico in Montjuïc, and in the stadium that creates the most lively home atmosphere, Barcelona fans are ready to party after the usual second leg of the showdown.
Andreas Christensen and Roberto's cumulative yellow card suspensions may be a hidden danger at the back, and the rapid attack after the opening kick-off of Grand Paris also worried Barcelona fans who were ready to revel, but when the talented Yamal set up Raphini's goal with a stunning breakthrough in the 12th minute, all Barcelona fans were firmly convinced that their team would be at Wembley Stadium, the final venue.
Scoring in the first attack, with a huge advantage of two goal difference, Grand Paris will have to score at least three more goals if they want to turn the tables...... Without accidents, Barcelona ...... Something went wrong......
Desperate Paris, who had been cornered, began a more swift counter-attack, and when Ter Stegen blocked Mbappe's shots one after another, Barcorra, who had been entrusted with the task by Enrique, began his own show, and the attacker who never dragged the ball in the mud frequently threatened the Barcelona defence and single-handedly turned the situation around.
In the 29th minute, Balcola forced Araujo on the left side to form a single knife, and the Barcelona stalwarts who couldn't catch up reached out and dragged down the big Paris winger who was about to burst into the penalty area, and the referee Kovac's whistle sounded at the same time, just when the Barcelona players were still arguing that it was not a penalty, a red card was dazzling.
Araujo was sent off, Barcelona had one man less, Xavi had to replace the outstanding Yamal with Martinez, and the suspensions of Andreas Christensen and Roberto began to eat away from all the previous efforts - in the 40th minute, Barcola again crossed from the left and Dembele at the back post to send the ball into the old goal.
Dembele completed the home and away double against his old home, which made Barcelona fans mixed and booed in the night sky. Despite failing to hold on to a 1-0 lead, Barcelona still held the initiative to advance, but Xavi clearly underestimated Enrique's determination and courage in the tactical set-up at half-time.
Xavi further recycled the defence and tried to cut off the assault of Barcola and Dembele on both flanks. However, under the constant pressure of Grand Paris, Barcelona's defense was too deep, which gave Grand Paris a chance to turn around.
In the 54th minute, Achraf knocked across the right, and the unmarked Vitinha calmly adjusted and suddenly kicked the goal. The Portuguese midfielder, who has caused huge problems in the Barcelona defence over two legs home and away, has completed the home and away double against the big enemies like Dembele.
The good situation was ruined, Xavi, who had long been dissatisfied with the referee Kovac's penalty, completely broke the defense, spat at the referee after losing control of his emotional management, and was sent off. The coach left the field in a "self-refereed" way, which aroused the players' deep sense of mission, and Barcelona then launched a big counterattack, and the big Paris goal was once in the limelight.
Unfortunately, Lewandowski and Gundogan's inevitable shots were deflected by Donnarumma one by one, and then the moment of heartbreak and despair for Barcelona fans finally came - Cancelo tackled Dembele who burst into the penalty area, giving Mbappe a penalty opportunity to completely seal the victory.
Mbappe made it overnight to help Paris get the initiative to advance for the first time, and then in the face of Barcelona's almost desperate counterattack, Mbappe sent the ball cleared by his national team teammate Kounde into the goal of Ter Stegen in the counterattack. 4-1, Grand Paris also gave Barcelona a big reversal, advanced to the semifinals, and faced the group opponent Dort in the semifinals, Mbappe is expected to give his fans an explanation before he leaves.
The revelry turned to heartbreak, Barca's road to revival was ruined by Araujo's red card, and Xavi blasted referee Kovac with full fire after the game. One thing to say, there is really nothing wrong with Araujo's red card, but the price is too great for Barcelona to bear - this red card not only shattered Barcelona's dream of returning to the top of Europe, but also cost Barcelona at least 62.5 million euros......