Traditional Catalan newspaper, Mundo Deportivo did not accept Barcelona’s fall to PSG in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, this Tuesday (16), after a 4-1 defeat at the Estádio Olímpico Lluís Companys. In one publication, the outlet was categorical in insinuating that the arbitration was “suspicious” and favorable to the Parisians.
In the newspaper’s view, PSG was out of the game, until the expulsion of Ronald Araujo, in the first half, which caused the visiting team to “resurrect” in the game after Raphinha opened the scoring, in the 12th minute.
The outlet saw the expulsion as a “very strict decision” by Romanian referee Istvan Kovacs, who he also called a “mafioso”. And he also attacked PSG, stating that the club is “Uefa’s favorite”, the highest entity in European football.
“The French team, one of UEFA’s favorites, driven by suspicious refereeing, reacted with goals from Dembélé, Vitinha, Mbappé, from the penalty spot, and again Mbappé, who scored with Barça in desperation,” he wrote.
“Powerless in the game, PSG revived thanks to the referee’s impetus and took advantage.”
PSG’s reaction began at the end of the first half. Ousmane Dembélé left everything the same and, in the final stage, Vitinha and Kylian Mbappé, twice, turned the score around and put the Parisians in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Now PSG will face Borussia Dortmund in the next phase, who eliminated Atlético de Madrid, also this Tuesday.