Barcelona supporters were left furious after a disappointing 3–0 defeat to Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League, with Ferran Torres and Ronald Araujo receiving the harshest criticism online. Both players struggled badly at Stamford Bridge, contributing to one of Barça’s poorest European performances this season.
The match turned against the Catalans early. Jules Kounde’s unfortunate own goal in the 27th minute handed Chelsea the lead, and from that point, the visitors looked increasingly unsettled. The night worsened when Ronald Araujo was sent off in the 44th minute after receiving a second yellow card—leaving Barcelona with an uphill battle for the entire second half.
Ferran Torres and Ronald Araujo Under Fire
Ferran Torres endured a frustrating 45-minute spell before his withdrawal. The forward missed a big chance to level the game in the first half and completed just 50% of his passes, leaving many fans disappointed by his lack of impact.
Araujo, meanwhile, failed to make a single clearance or win a tackle before being shown red. Playing with 10 men for the entire second half, Barcelona struggled to contain Chelsea’s pace and energy.
Chelsea punished their rivals ruthlessly, with Brazilian wonderkid Estevão (55’) and Liam Delap (73’) adding two more goals to seal a comfortable win.
Fans Erupt on X After the Loss
Barcelona fans quickly voiced their frustration on social media, calling out both players for their performances. One fan wrote:
“BIG THANKS TO ARAUJO AND FERRAN, WE PLAYED AGAINST 13 MEN. CONGRATS TO CHELSEA.”
Another supporter was even more direct:
“Ferran Torres and Araujo should leave my club ASAP.”
Many echoed similar sentiments, with several posts calling for the club to “get rid” of both players after the heavy defeat.
One outraged fan added:
“Everyone is talking about the Araujo red card, but nothing about Ferran being an idiot up front. Even if he scored 50 goals tonight, he’d still be useless.”
The tone across social media was consistent—fans believed the duo had cost the team dearly in a crucial Champions League fixture.
Barcelona’s UCL Struggles Continues
Barcelona’s form in Europe this season has been inconsistent. In five Champions League matches, the Blaugrana have won only twice, drawn once, and lost twice. Their seven points from five games leave them dangerously placed at 16th in the overall standings.
To secure direct qualification to the Round of 16, Barça must win their remaining fixtures and avoid further slip-ups.
Hansi Flick Reacts to Araujo’s Red Card
After the match, head coach Hansi Flick addressed Araujo’s dismissal, admitting the defender could have avoided the challenge that led to his second yellow.
Speaking via Barca Universal, Flick said:
“I don’t know why Araujo got the first yellow card. As for the second one, he could have avoided tackling like that. I think I can guide him more on what to do. It happens in football, but it was not the time nor the match for that.”
Despite the heavy defeat, Flick insisted he remained positive:
“I think it was a one-off match. This is Chelsea. We started well and could have scored. When you have a red card, things go like this. I’m really optimistic about the next matches.”
Barcelona Still Chasing LaLiga and European Form
With key players like Pedri sidelined and Raphinha and Marcus Rashford still not fully fit, Barcelona are navigating a difficult period. Domestically, they sit second in LaLiga—just one point behind rivals Real Madrid.
However, if they are to defend their league title and avoid a premature exit from the Champions League, significant improvement will be needed—both in discipline and in execution.
