Major Blow for Barcelona as Pau Cubarsí Sees Red in Champions League Clash
FC Barcelona suffered an early setback in their Champions League Round of 16 first-leg match after being reduced to ten men in the 22nd minute. Young defender Pau Cubarsí was shown a straight red card for bringing down Vangelis Pavlidis, who was charging toward goal.
Facing this numerical disadvantage, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick reacted swiftly with a tactical adjustment. He opted to sacrifice Dani Olmo, bringing on Ronald Araújo to reinforce the defense and ensure stability at the back. This strategic move underlined Barcelona’s commitment to staying defensively solid and minimizing the damage ahead of the return leg.
The incident stemmed from an impressive solo run by Pavlidis, who broke through the middle with pace, forcing Cubarsí into a last-ditch challenge. The referee wasted no time in brandishing the red card, though VAR reviewed two key aspects of the play: Pavlidis’s starting position and a possible foul by Benfica earlier in the buildup. After a brief check, the decision stood—Cubarsí was sent off, and Benfica was awarded a dangerous free kick just outside the penalty area.
With one man down, Barcelona now faces an uphill battle, requiring resilience and defensive discipline to keep their hopes of qualification alive for the second leg.
