Inter Milan defeated Barcelona to guarantee their place in the final in one of the most thrilling semi-finals in recent Champions League history. The return match in Italy was even more exciting after the first leg finished 3-3.
Similar to what happened in the first leg, Barcelona rallied to tie it 2-2 after the home team took an early two-goal lead thanks to goals from Lautaro Martinez and Hakan Calhanoglu. Raphinha, the front-runner for the Ballon d’Or, gave Barca the lead for the first time in both games in the 87th minute, seemingly winning the match. However, 37-year-old Francesco Acerbi made it 3-3 that evening in the third minute of added time.
The game was headed for penalties, but Davide Frattesi had other plans. He maintained his cool to score in extra time, giving Inter Milan a 4-3 victory (7-6 overall). Naturally agitated, Barcelona supporters seem to have vented their resentment on Ronald Araujo following the match.
Struggles against Inter Milan, Ronald Araujo
After coming off the bench, he was responsible for two goals.
In the 76th minute, with the score tied at 2-2, Araujo, who has struggled to consistently gain a spot in the starting XI since being sidelined with an injury in the first half of the season, came off the bench for Inigo Martinez. It’s reasonable to assume that his game wasn’t the best.
In fact, there is compelling evidence to suggest that he was responsible for Inter’s third and fourth goals. The home team’s late equaliser was scored by fellow defender Acerbi, who was made to appear like Olivier Giroud by the inexperienced centre-back. When the ball was moved into the box for Frattesi to score the winning goal in extra time, Marcus Thuram on the flank then gave him the runaround.
His 44-minute cameo was far from spectacular, according to the statistics, as he was dribbled past once, lost five of his eleven attempted duels, and gave up fouls. The individual who wore the captain’s armband at the end of the game is hardly what you desire.
Barcelona Fans Tear Into Ronald Araujo
“The traitor at the back just cost us everything”
One Barca supporter expressed dissatisfaction with his efforts, saying:
“How we lost is more important than the actual loss. With the exception of Araujo, every player can hold their head high. He will never be forgiven by me. They all turned up: Eric, Martin, Pedri, Raphinha, and Lamine. We simply lost everything because of the traitor at the back.
“Araujo deadass is the dumbest player in our history,” someone else remarked. Someone wrote: “That clown and calamitous defender called Araujo keeps costing us with his dumbass defending.”
Others added: “I no longer hate Ter Stegen as much as I hate Araujo.” And: “Araujo is a man of humour. No longer able to hate. He simply is himself. Nunez from CBs.
“He’s just so useless to the team,” another person added.
“Players like Araujo make you hate the sport,” wrote a last supporter, summarising the atmosphere. My health is suffering as a result of the rage that is currently brewing inside of me, dude.
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