Xavi furious at referee as Barcelona KOd by PSG; Dortmund advances

Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez berated the referee and said his performance cost his side a chance to fight for a place in the Champions League semifinals after it lost 4-1 to Paris Saint-Germain and was knocked out of the competition late Tuesday.

After winning 3-2 in Paris and taking a 1-0 lead with an early Raphinha goal in the quarter-final second leg, Barca was down to 10 men just before the half-hour after last man Ronald Araujo was shown a red card for a foul on Bradley Barcola.

Xavi complained bitterly to referee Istvan Kovacs and ended up being shown a red card himself, which did not stop him going back to the pitch at the final whistle to voice his frustration again at the Romanian official after Barca’s 6-4 aggregate loss.

“The referee was really bad. I told him his performance was a disaster. I don’t like to talk about referees, but it had a clear impact in the season and it has to be said,” Xavi told Movistar Plus.

“We are very upset and angry because the red card was the decisive factor in the match. With eleven we were in a good position, playing well and in command.

“It’s too much to flash a red card in a game like this. There was another game after that ... It is a pity that the work of the season was ruined by an unnecessary expulsion.”

After Araujo’s dismissal PSG took control of the match and former Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembele fired home for the visitors in the 40th to equalize on the night and Vitinha put them ahead with a strike from the edge of the box in the 54th.

Joao Cancelo fouled Dembele in the 61st minute with a sliding tackle to concede a penalty that Kylian Mbappe fired into the top corner to move the visitors in front in the tie.

Five-time champion Barca, which last reached the semis five years ago, tried to find a goal to take the game to extra time but Mbappe made the most of a counter attack to score and wrap up a semifinal place against Borussia Dortmund.

“We tried but today it was not to be,” Barca midfielder Frenkie De Jong told reporters. “It’s a big blow because we were convinced we could go through. We’ll have to try again next season.

“I didn’t see the play in which Araujo was sent off. I just had the feeling that Barcola’s control went well ahead him and into the goalkeeper’s hands... We tried after that, but we couldn’t do any more.”

“Everyone believed in it. We didn’t give up,” Dembele said. “We knew we were going to score goals. It was great work from the whole team. The coach’s tactics were perfect. We made a great effort after conceding the first goal.

“Qualifying for the semi-final is a big thing. We’re crossing our fingers to make it to the final. We’ll have to recover well.”

Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund is relishing a re-match with PSG in the semifinals after knocking out Atletico Madrid in a thrilling tie to set up a meeting with the French side it played in the group stage.

Dortmund overturned a 2-1 deficit from its quarterfinal first leg against Atletico to win 5-4 on aggregate and will now renew acquaintances with PSG.

Dortmund coach Edin Terzic feels his side, which won the Champions League in 1997, is now better prepared to face the French champion, after the Germans lost away and drew at home in the group stage.

“Our first game against them wasn’t good. In the second game, we adjusted to them better and were closer to victory. I think we’re a better team today than we were against them in the group stage,” Terzic said following the comeback victory over Atletico.

Midfielder Julian Brandt, who opened the scoring in the first half for Dortmund, could scarcely believe that his side had made it through to the last four after taking a two goal-lead, conceding two goals, and then scoring twice more.

“It was a crazy game for the fans and for us. A great game for us, for our fans and for all football fans around the world,” he said after receiving his man-of-the-match award.

“It’s going to be very serious now against Paris. We played well against them at home in the group stage, but not well away. We want to do better now and, of course, reach the final,” he added.

For striker Niclas Fuellkrug, who also got on the scoresheet, the Champions League semifinals will be a new experience.

“I’ve never played at this level before and I’m very proud to be in the semifinals of the Champions League with my team,” he said. “Things will certainly be different against Paris than in the group stage.” (Reuters)