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As he walked off the pitch, Araujo made a specific hand gesture
In a dramatic Champions League comeback, Paris Saint-Germain defeated Barcelona 4-1 on Tuesday, securing a 6-4 aggregate victory and a place in the semi-finals. This follows their first-leg defeat 3-2 at home.
Barcelona started strong with Raphinha scoring early in the 12th minute. The tide turned, however, when Barcelona's Ronald Araujo received a red card just before the half-hour mark. Taking advantage of the one-man advantage, PSG clawed their way back.
Ousmane Dembele, Vitinha, and Kylian Mbappe, all found the net, leaving Barcelona stunned. Mbappe's performance was particularly impressive, solidifying his position as one of Europe's top young talents. With this win, PSG advanced to the semi-finals where they'll face Borussia Dortmund, while Barcelona's Champions League journey comes to an end.
Araujo's gesture becomes a talking point
A critical moment in the game was the red card shown to Ronald Araujo. In the 29th minute of the game, there was a decisive turn. Araujo, a vital defender for Barcelona, was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on PSG's Leandro Paredes. This decision by the referee, Istvan Kovacs, was confirmed by VAR. Araujo's reaction was one of disbelief and intense frustration.
He vehemently protested the red card, raising his arms in question and arguing with his teammates and the referee. However, there's an additional layer to his response that has gained increased attention.
As he walked off the pitch, Araujo made a specific hand gesture. He splayed his fingers and twisted his hand, leaving many viewers, particularly those unfamiliar with South American culture, confused. Fans familiar with Latin America speculated on the meaning. The gesture is believed to represent stealing or thievery. This suggests that Araujo felt the red card was a stolen decision, unfairly taking him out of the game.
Araujo himself hasn't publicly confirmed the meaning of the gesture. However, based on cultural context, it's the most likely interpretation. This red card was a major turning point. With Barcelona a man down, PSG capitalized on the advantage, eventually winning the game 4-1 and the tie 6-4 on aggregate.