Young forward Lamine Yamal was the first casualty for Barcelona after the Blaugrana lost Ronald Araujo through a direct red card in the first half of their 1-4 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
The young forward had to make way for veteran defender Inigo Martinez as Xavi decided it was important for the team to shore up the defence with the team being a man down.
It is no secret that the expulsion of Araujo had a significant impact on the Barcelona vs. PSG match, ultimately affecting the outcome of the tie.
Araujo’s absence left a noticeable gap in Barcelona’s defensive setup and disrupted their momentum. By the team he was given his marching orders, the Uruguayan was key to Xavi’s plans.
However, Xavi opted to reshuffle the team, sacrificing a forward to compensate. Among Lewandowski, Raphinha, and the young academy player, the latter seemed the most straightforward choice.
Post-match, emotions ran high and Yamal was visibly emotional, struggling to contain his tears, while Pau Cubarsi, too, was devastated by the unexpected defeat.
The disappointment was palpable, especially considering Barcelona’s advantageous position after the first leg.
Yamal has a promising future ahead, but his competitive drive made him particularly affected by the recent loss against Paris Saint-Germain, compounded by his circumstances.
Following the match, Lamine took to Instagram to share his thoughts. Despite the setback, his message exuded optimism and the determination typical of a competitive athlete.
Football always offers redemption. We’ll bounce back,” wrote Lamine Yamal, accompanied by two hearts—one blue, the other scarlet. He shared four photos from the game, including one capturing his pivotal role in a goal celebration.
The entire Barcelona squad would have been devastated by the match result as everybody expected the team to progress, especially given the advantage they had from the first leg.
Following the events of last night, though, everybody in the locker room needs to keep their heads up and work towards the upcoming away match against Real Madrid.
