Barcelona were in complete control of Tuesday's Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain.
Then a red card in the first half changed everything. PSG scored four goals against a lackluster Barcelona side, coming back from a 4-2 deficit to a 1-0 deficit and winning 4-1. With a 6-4 aggregate advantage, they advanced to the Champions League semi-final round.
There, PSG will face Borussia Dortmund, who beat Atletico Madrid 4-2 (5-4 on aggregate) on Tuesday through an own goal.
Barcelona take the lead and lead in doubles
Barcelona entered Tuesday's game with a one-point advantage after winning the first leg of the quarter-finals 3-2. Twelve minutes into the game, Rafinha doubled the lead with a goal past PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Then a red card changed the course of the match.
Ronald Araujo's red card gives PSG the advantage
Around the 29th minute, a turnover in Barcelona's midfield allowed PSG's Bradley Barcola to break free and have a chance to score. Barcelona's Ronald Araujo chased Barcola and pulled him onto the grass from behind by his right shoulder on the edge of the penalty area.
The referee blew the penalty whistle. Officials determined that the contact occurred just outside the box and awarded PSG a free kick instead of a penalty. However, the team gave Araujo a red card and he was sent off. Barcelona will play the final 60 minutes of the match with one fewer man.
PSG made the most of it.
PSG's massive goals ensure a place in the semi-finals
Ousmane Dembele's free kick went over the goal. However, 10 minutes later he found the back of the net against a short-handed opponent. In the 39th minute, Dembélé scored a one-time goal from the right flank after Barcola's cross, leveling the game at 1-1 and reducing Barcelona's aggregate lead to 4-3.
Dembele scored his second goal in the quarter-final against his former club after drawing the first leg 1-1.
PSG kept up the pressure from the start of the second half. In the 52nd minute, Fabian Ruiz took a shot from the penalty area, but it just missed the right side of the goal. But moments later, Vicinha scored from just outside the penalty area, slipping past goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
The goal gave PSG a 2-1 lead and tied the score at 4-4 on aggregate. Another penalty spelled doom for Barcelona.
Mbappé sets up the winning goal with a penalty
In the 58th minute, Joao Cancelo challenged Dembele on the right side of the penalty area. He tripped Dembele and threw him onto the grass, inviting further fouls.
This time it was clearly a foul inside the box. PSG earned a penalty when Kylian Mbappé ran past Ter Stegen and sent the ball to the left of the goal.
Who else but Kylian Mbappé? 🇫🇷
Joao Cancelo makes a reckless challenge and the World Cup winner makes no mistake from 12 yards 🥶 pic.twitter.com/vZDS41V2lv
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 16, 2024
This goal gave PSG a 3-1 lead. PSG, who were trailing 4-2 on aggregate at the start of the match, took a 5-4 lead.
Mbappe added another goal in the 89th minute, putting the game out of reach for Barcelona. When it was over, PSG surprised the Barcelona team that showed up early Tuesday morning on track for the semi-finals.
