Barcelona fans have taken to social media in droves to slam two men in particular after a 3-3 draw with Inter Milan left their Champions League qualification hopes hanging by the thinnest of threads.
The Blaugrana headed into the game with just three points to their name, having lost both to Bayern Munich and Inter Milan, but knew that beating Milan at the Camp Nou would bring them right back into contention for qualification.
However, despite taking the lead through Ousmane Dembele just before half time, it required a stoppage-time equaliser from Robert Lewandowski and an agonising miss from Inter wing-back Robin Gosens to snatch a point from a frenetic last quarter of an hour in Catalonia.
What. A. Rollercoaster.
Gosens puts Inter 3-2 up in the lead as all hope in Barcelona looks to be lost with minutes left on the clock…#UCL pic.twitter.com/OVqVbD5w1R
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 12, 2022
It is a result that leaves Xavi’s side on the brink of Europa League football, with Inter Milan needing to beat winless Victoria Plzen to be sure of their place in the Champions League knockout rounds courtesy of the head-to-head rules of the competition.
Should they fail to do so, Barcelona would need to take six points from games against Bayern Munich and Victoria, while Milan took fewer than three to book their place in the last 16, something that looks extremely unlikely.
So, like last season, it is looking to be another season of Thursday night football for the Camp Nou side, and the Blaugrana faithful were quick top pin the blame on two veterans for the outcome. The players in question? Spanish pair Gerard Pique and Sergio Busquets. The defender was responsible for the equaliser, while it was an all round poor performance from the Busquets that fans took a dislike to, as can be seen below.
Kinda poetic, in a twisted way, that it’s Pique and Busquets who send us back to Europa League.
— sm (@TacticoModerno) October 12, 2022
The irony that both goals were the result of Pique‘s and Busquets‘ fatal errors.
— La Senyera (@LaSenyera) October 12, 2022
Busquets and Pique single handedly lost us this whole qualification. Never want to see them playing from start ever again.
— De Ara Torres (@dearatorres) October 12, 2022
I feel bad for the rest of the team, because two hasbeen’s like Pique and Busquets cost us this game entirely out of their mistakes and it’s not the first time they’re the ones to blame. It sucks, I had much higher expectations for this season. Another letdown.
— De Ara Torres (@dearatorres) October 12, 2022
NEVER EVER SAY YES TO PIQUE AND BUSQUETS ON EUROPEAN NIGHTS
— SAM (@Fcb_s_a_m) October 12, 2022
Busquets and Pique with two needless mistakes leading to two Inter goals.
Father Time is undefeated.
— Muhammad Butt (@muhammadbutt) October 12, 2022
Pique and busquets need to hasten up their departure man. We’re fucking tired.
— Barca Class Captain (@AlphaCule) October 12, 2022
If pique and Busquets don’t retire after tonight’s game I’m not calling them a club legend again
— Swaroop (@Swaroop_1102) October 12, 2022
This club needs to retire pique and busquets bro.
— Barca Class Captain (@AlphaCule) October 12, 2022
Piqué and Busquets are getting paid to play football. Unbelievable scam.
— Jimmy (@FCBJimmy_) October 12, 2022
