Ilkay Gündogan, the Barcelona midfielder, has expressed his belief that Ronald Araujo’s mistake proved to be costly for the team in their Champions League quarter-final match against Paris Saint-Germain.
Gündogan stated that they gave away the game “in the most simple manner,” indicating the frustration and disappointment felt by the team.
Barcelona had a 3-2 lead from the first leg in Paris, and their hopes were further boosted when Raphinha scored in the 12th minute at the Olympic Stadium.
However, their advantage was short-lived as Araújo was shown a red card after half an hour for a last-man challenge on Bradley Barcola.
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This turn of events allowed PSG to make a comeback and secure a 4-1 victory on the night, advancing 6-4 on aggregate to the semi-finals against Borussia Dortmund.
Gündogan acknowledged the possibility of the challenge being a red card offense, although he admitted that he hadn’t seen the replay.
He emphasized the importance of being certain when attempting to win the ball in crucial moments.
If uncertain, he believed it would have been better to concede a goal or leave the striker in a one-on-one situation, giving the goalkeeper a chance to save or even concede a goal.
The early red card had a significant impact on the game, according to Gündogan, as it disrupted Barcelona’s rhythm and made it difficult for them to recover.
