Barcelona’s 3-2 lead from the first leg was strengthened by Raphinha’s early goal in the second leg, but a red card for Ronald Araujo led to a dramatic turnaround by PSG, who scored three goals before half-time. Barcelona’s manager expressed anger at the turn of events and was eventually sent off by the referee, Istvan Kovacs, for his aggressive gestures towards the officials. The match saw exciting wing play from 16-year-old Lamine Yamal, leading to Raphinha’s goal before PSG mounted a comeback, with Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha leveling the aggregate score. With Barcelona down to 10 men, PSG capitalized on a penalty and added another goal, ultimately securing a 4-1 victory and a 6-4 aggregate win.
Xavi criticized the referee’s performance, expressing disappointment at the outcome and labeling it as the reason for their Champions League exit. Despite the chaotic turn of events, Xavi’s actions during the match sparked humorous reactions on social media, creating an unexpected story arc for the Barcelona manager.
