When they led 2-0 after 24 minutes of play Tuesday evening on the Metropolitano pitch, Barça players surely imagined an outcome other than this frustrating elimination from the Champions League. The fault on Lookman’s goal before the break and a second half where they will hit the wall of Atlético. When commenting on this insufficient victory (1-2 after the 0-2 in the first leg at Camp Nou), the Catalans were embittered. And protested against the arbitration of Clément Turpin.
The most virulent was Raphinha. “For me, it’s a stolen match,” said the Brazilian winger when he wasn’t even on the pitch. I find that the refereeing was problematic. The decisions that were made are incredible. Atlético made I don’t know how many mistakes and they didn’t get a yellow card. » The French whistle, on the other hand, expelled Eric Garcia at the end of the match after consulting the VAR.
The video also came to the aid of the Madrilenians at a crucial moment, around the hour mark, when it made it possible to detect the offside of Ferran Torres who had just scored his team’s third goal, synonymous with an equalizer in both matches. The train never returned, and the Barcelonans were eliminated.
“We are disappointed, obviously. Overall, I think we deserved to reach the semi-finals, said coach Hansi Flick. Everyone is sad, because it’s all of our dreams to win the Champions League. But we must accept this result and we will come back stronger. »
Little sentences and tension
The technician did not comment on the refereeing this time, unlike in the first leg where he complained about a penalty not awarded to his team. Barça had even filed a complaint with UEFA. Rejected, obviously. Overall, this double confrontation gave rise to a lot of short sentences and constant tension.
Barcelona captain Frenkie de Jong, present in the mixed zone, for his part affirmed that his team had “dominated the two matches, even playing with ten” and only regretted that “luck did not fall” on their side.
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“We have to continue to grow. I am sure that if we continue to play like this, with the team we have and this idea of the game, at one point things will change in our favor,” noted the Dutchman. In the meantime, they still have La Liga, where they are on track to retain their title.
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