The curse of expulsion strikes Barcelona again... a never-ending European nightmare!
On the nights of the Champions League, when the biggest stories are written and the strength of the teams is tested in the most difficult moments, Barcelona seems to be living under the weight of a recurring scenario, like a curse that haunts it whenever it comes close to regaining its continental glories.
In the 2023/2024 season, the Catalan team began its journey with great confidence after achieving an important victory away from home to Paris Saint-Germain, but everything collapsed in the return match, when Ronald Araujo was sent off, changing the course of the confrontation completely, Barcelona leaves the tournament in a painful way after being close to qualifying.
In the 2024/2025 season, the scene returned to be repeated in a different format, as the team received a new blow with the early expulsion of Pau Cobarci against Benfica. Although Barcelona continued its journey until the semi-finals, the end was harsh with an exit against Inter Milan, so that the effects of that moment remain present despite the delay in the decision.
As for the current season 2025/2026, this scenario has reached its climax, making it seem as if history is repeating itself remarkably. In the match against Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the quarter-finals, Cobarci received a new red card, making the team’s task complicated again, and Barcelona lost 2-0, leaving its fate hanging before the difficult return match at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium.
Three consecutive seasons, and three decisive moments were associated with red cards, turning into a common factor in Barcelona’s European failures. While the team seeks to break this cycle, the question remains: Can it overcome this knot, or will this scenario continue to haunt it on Champions Nights?
