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Barcelona Devastated by Champions League Exit Amid Refereeing Controversy

Posted : 07 May 2025

Barcelona were left heartbroken after a dramatic 4–3 defeat to Inter Milan in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final, which ended 7–6 on aggregate in favor of the Italian side. Despite a spirited comeback that saw Barcelona lead late in the match after a goal from Raphinha, Inter equalized in stoppage time through Francesco Acerbi and sealed their victory with Davide Frattesi’s strike in extra time.

 

 The result denied the Catalan giants their first Champions League final appearance since 2015 and left both players and fans devastated.

 

In the aftermath, Barcelona players and officials expressed strong dissatisfaction with the refereeing by Polish official Szymon Marciniak.

 

 Coach Hansi Flick and several players highlighted four controversial moments, including a disputed penalty awarded to Inter, a potential handball by Acerbi that went uncalled, a cancelled penalty after a foul on Lamine Yamal, and a questionable play that led to Inter’s equalizing goal.

 

 Flick remarked that "every 50-50 decision went against us" and admitted confronting the referee during the match, for which he received a yellow card.

 

Players echoed the coach’s frustration. Ronald Araújo criticized the officiating, saying a foul in the buildup to Inter's equalizer was missed, while Pedri called on UEFA to investigate the match, noting it wasn’t the first time Marciniak had made contentious decisions against them.

 

Spanish media also reflected the mood, with Mundo Deportivo writing that the players were "broken" and Marca describing the defeat as "cruelty at the highest level," even as they praised the team's resilience.

 

Despite the controversy, the Barcelona camp acknowledged their shortcomings. Flick praised his team’s effort, admitting Inter’s tactical strength and finishing ability were decisive. Defender Eric Garcia described the loss as “cruel” but stressed that the team showed character after coming back from two goals down.

 

 Looking forward, young star Lamine Yamal posted on Instagram vowing to one day bring the Champions League trophy back to Barcelona, affirming that their quest to return to European glory will continue.

 

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