![UCL: Gundogan criticises Araujo for ‘killing’ Barcelona against PSG [VIDEO]](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/17042024/8ea782a9-ff70-44ab-80f2-6090b269150b.jpeg?operations=fit(480:))
The experienced midfielder was not pleased with the defender’s foul on Bradley Barcola, which left Xavi’s team shorthanded.
Barcelona midfielder Ilkay Gundogan reprimanded teammate Ronald Araujo for his sending-off in Barcelona’s heavy 4-1 defeat in their Champions League quarter-final second-leg against Paris Saint-Germain.
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22:27 - 16.04.2024
Three Red Cards and Dembele Masterclass Send Barcelona Out of Champions League as PSG Reach Semifinals
Ousmane Dembele returned to haunt his former club as Paris Saint-Germain destroyed Barcelona at home to seal a semifinal ticket
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00:01 - 17.04.2024
He was very poor — Xavi blames referee for Barcelona's UCL exit to PSG
Barcelona head coach Xavi blames referee Istvan Kovacs for the club's Champions League exit, pointing to the contentious red card shown to Ronald Araújo as the turning point of the match.
What happened?
Raphinha had put the Blaugrana 1-0 up on the night and 4-2 up on aggregate when Aruajo was dismissed by Istvan Kovacs for bringing down PSG wide attacker Bradley Barcola in the 29th minute.
Xavi Hernandez’s men were left shorthanded after the defender prevented a clear goalscoring opportunity, meaning they had to protect their lead for over an hour.
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The home could not hold out for much longer, with Ousmane Dembele levelling on the night in the 40th minute before Vitinha's shot from the edge of the area after the interlude made it 2-1 — 4-4 on aggregate.
Kylian Mbappe twice netted — in minutes 61 and 89 — to win the quarter-final for the Parisians, and set up a semi-final meeting with Borussia Dortmund, who eliminated Atletico Madrid in the night’s other last-eight clash.
What Gundogan said about Araujo’s sending off
A forthright Gundogan criticised the Uruguay centre-back for his misjudgement on the half-hour mark.
“Very disappointed. Everything was in our hands and we just gave it away in the most simple manner,” said a dispirited Gundogan after the match.
“If he fouled him, I guess it’s a red card. I haven’t seen the replay. In such crucial moments, you need to be sure to get the ball, and if you don’t get it, you have to stay away.
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“I prefer to concede the goal there or give the striker a one-v-one. Give him the opportunity or let our goalkeeper save us or even concede a goal.
“To go down one man and get a red card so early in the game. It just kills your game. It kills you”.
What comes next for Barcelona?
The Blaugrana are outsiders to catch Real Madrid in LaLiga, with Los Blancos eight points clear of Barcelona with seven games remaining.
Xavi’s men travel to Santiago Bernabeu on April 21, keen to secure maximum points to cut the league-leading side’s lead to five with six games left.
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