Barcelona's NIGHTMARE first-half at Chelsea: Former target Jules Kounde scores comical own goal, captain Ronald Araujo's mad red card while ex-Man City star bags himself miss of the season contender

2 hours ago 6

By WILL GRIFFEE

Published: 21:42 GMT, 25 November 2025 | Updated: 21:43 GMT, 25 November 2025

Barcelona endured their worst 45 minutes of the season as one calamity followed another against Chelsea

The Spanish side, facing the Blues at Stamford Bridge in the Champions League on Tuesday night, went behind to a comical own goal. 

In the 27th minute of the game, Marc Cucurella whipped in a dangerous ball across the six yard box. 

The Barcelona defenders made a mess of attempting to clear Pedro Neto's deft flick finish but appeared to have done enough to make a block. 

With the ball under his feet, former Blues transfer target Jules Kounde was temporarily unaware of where it was and managed to nudge it over his own line. 

The Frenchman had his head in his hands as he realised the terrible blunder he had committed to put his side behind in the game. 

The ball was under Jules Kounde's feet before he nudged it into his own net by mistake 

Ex-Man City man Ferran Torres missed  a sitter in the box for Barcelona in the first half 

Cucurella was just onside in the build-up to the Chelsea opener on Tuesday night 

It looked as though Cucurella might have been offside in the build-up but the technology showed Pau Cubarsi playing him onside.  

Just before the break, it then went from bad to worse for Hansi Flick's men who were reduced to 10 after their captain Ronald Araujo was sent off. 

The Uruguayan picked up his second yellow card of the game for a crude challenge on Cucurella and had to trudge down the tunnel to jeers from the home fans. 

He did not even protest the decision and knew his fate. Araujo's contributions in the match had not been of any great note, with no clearances, tackles or duels won before he was given his marching orders. 

The centre-back went off his feet in a lunging effort on Cucurella that left the referee no choice. 

It was Cucurella, seemingly at the heart of everything, who was stifling the threat of teen sensation Lamine Yamal on Barcelona's right flank. 

Yamal, 18, was repeatedly unable to beat the left-back and get in behind as the Chelsea man put on a defensive masterclass for the opening stanza. 

Ronald Araujo was sent off after picking up a second yellow card for this challenge

Lamine Yamal (left) was outshone by Estevao at Stamford Bridge in the battle of the teens 

It could have been even worse for Barcelona, with Chelsea having two goals disallowed. 

Enzo Fernandez swivelled and scored early on but it was chalked off for handball before the Argentine headed in Estavao's cross only for Trevoh Chalobah to be deemed in a marginally offside position. 

Prior to the second disallowed effort, Ferran Torres spurned a golden chance in the box for the visitors.

The ex-Man City forward had a chance from around 10 yards out, taking a touch before firing it wide of the post. 

While Yamal was struggling against Cucurella, Chelsea starlet Estevao played a leading role for his side in a contest billed as a battle between the two supremely talented youngsters. 

He looked a threat every time he attacked and then doubled Chelsea's advantage in the second half to add a goal his display deserved.  

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