Yamal, Referee Marciniak, and ‘treble’ take over social media trends after Barcelona’s UCL exit

Barcelona faced significant backlash on social media after crashing out of the UEFA Champions League, following a dramatic 4-3 loss to Inter Milan at the San Siro on May 6, 2025.

Goals from Lautaro Martínez, Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Francesco Acerbi, and Davide Frattesi sealed the victory for the Italian side, despite a spirited second-half comeback from Barcelona.

The Catalan club responded with goals from Dani Olmo, Eric Garcia, and Raphinha, but it wasn’t enough. Inter Milan advanced to the next round with a 7-6 aggregate scoreline.

A wave of reactions swept through social media, as fans ridiculed Barcelona, who had been widely tipped to win a treble (three major trophies) this season, following their strong domestic and European form.

Barcelona’s head coach Hansi Flick and several players criticised referee Szymon Marciniak, accusing him of favoring Inter Milan in several 50/50 decisions. They claimed these calls had a significant impact on the outcome of the match, contributing to the club’s painful exit.

Meanwhile, teenage sensation Lamine Yamal found himself trending for both positive and negative reasons. Some fans mocked him for prior comments that implied Barcelona were clear favorites to win the competition.

Others, however, praised the 18-year-old for his outstanding performance, highlighting his relentless attacks that troubled Inter’s defense throughout the game.

Barcelona’s Champions League drought, now stretching to nine years, continues, despite a season filled with promise and widespread predictions of European glory.

Read some of the reactions below:

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SB/MA