El Clasico is around - Barca's Gundogan switches focus to Real Madrid after painful UCL exit
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Ilkay Gundogan was hurt to see Barcelona exit the UCL. (Photo Credit: Gundogan)

FOOTBALL El Clasico is around - Barca's Gundogan switches focus to Real Madrid after painful UCL exit

El Clasico is around - Barca's Gundogan switches focus to Real Madrid after painful UCL exit

Izuchukwu Akawor • 16:25 - 17.04.2024

Barcelona midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has expressed his frustration following the team's Champions League exit at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain but has quickly switched focus to Real Madrid.

Barcelona midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has vowed that the team will learn from their painful Champions League exit against Paris Saint-Germain, as they now turn their full attention to the upcoming El Clasico clash.

Despite holding a first-leg advantage, Barcelona were unable to defend their lead, with PSG securing a 4-1 victory in the second leg to progress to the semifinals on a 6-4 aggregate scoreline.

Gundogan switches to Real Madrid, El Clasico

In the aftermath of the defeat, Gundogan took to social media to express his frustration, describing the night as "so painful" and "really unfortunate."

However, the German international was quick to shift the focus to Barcelona's next challenge, the highly anticipated El Clasico match against arch-rivals Real Madrid.

A disappointed Ilkay Gundogan after Barcelona's Champions League exit to PSG
A disappointed Ilkay Gundogan after Barcelona's Champions League exit to PSG (Imago/PanoramiC)

"What a frustrating night," Gundogan wrote on his X account. "But for now ... El Clásico is just around the corner and we need to fully focus on that!"

The LALIGA defending champions will look to derail Real Madrid’s title aspirations when they clash at the beautiful Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday.

PSG striker Kylian Mbappe was the tormentor-in-chief against Barcelona.
PSG striker Kylian Mbappe was the tormentor-in-chief against Barcelona. | Imago

Gundogan's comments suggest that Barcelona are determined to put the Champions League disappointment behind them and channel their energy into the upcoming clash against bitter rivals Los Blancos.

The El Clasico fixture is always a crucial and highly charged encounter, and Gundogan's call for the team to maintain their focus and mentality will be crucial as they look to secure a positive result and regain their confidence.

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Despite the heartbreak of their Champions League exit, Gundogan remains optimistic about the team's ability to bounce back, stating that they need to "have the mentality to get up, learn from such a defeat and try again next season."

With the El Clasico showdown just around the corner, Barcelona will have the perfect opportunity to prove their resilience and demonstrate their determination to overcome the disappointment of their Champions League campaign.

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Tags:
Real Madrid Ilkay Guendogan Barcelona