Barcelonaโs dream of winning the treble came to a heartbreaking end at the hands of Inter Milan. Despite a performance that arguably deserved more, the Catalan side was left to face footballโs harsh reality. On a night where effort and dominance went unrewarded, the team that contributed less โ both on the night and throughout the knockout rounds โ came out on top.
Barcelona pulled off a remarkable comeback, erasing a two-goal deficit for the second time in the tournament. By the 87th minute, they led 3โ2, but their inability to manage the final minutes proved costly. Inter equalized with two minutes to go, and then took the lead early in extra time. Barcelona couldnโt recover, ultimately falling short of reaching the final.
The season isnโt over yet, though. The focus now shifts to La Liga, where a crucial clash with Real Madrid awaits. A win could narrow the gap to just seven points with three games left. Coach Hansi Flick must make smart decisions with no margin for error โ and according to several squad members, one key change should be dropping Ronald Araujo from the starting eleven.
Araujo was blamed for defensive lapses in Interโs last two goals. He failed to properly cover Acerbiโs shot and was outmuscled by Thuram in the buildup to Frattesiโs goal. While opinions within the team varied โ some blamed officiating, others pointed to fatigue โ the consensus in the locker room was clear: Araujo shouldnโt have been on the pitch. His inclusion seemed more like a statement following the clubโs refusal to let him leave in January than a tactical decision based on current form.
