"For a player who once seemed untouchable at the heart of Barcelona's defence, Ronald Araujo's recent performances in the UEFA Champions League have raised uncomfortable questions. Barcelona's 3-0 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last week is just the latest example. While the team was struggling to impose itself, it was Araujo's first-half red card (his second yellow after a reckless challenge on Marc Cucurella) that effectively ended any hopes of a comeback. Forced to play more than 45 minutes with ten men, Barcelona was outmatched by a clinical Chelsea side."
"This is not an isolated incident. Observers have pointed to similar missteps in previous campaigns. Last season, Barcelona's semifinal defeat to Inter Milan saw Araujo misjudge a key aerial duel and later lose his defensive position, contributing to a late winner for the Italians. In 2024, a first-half sending-off against PSG left Barcelona vulnerable despite leading on aggregate, and in the same year, he was sent off during a 4-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup, compounding a poor defensive display."
Ronald Araujo, 26-year-old Uruguayan and Barcelona captain, has made multiple costly errors in recent high-profile matches. A first-half red card at Stamford Bridge reduced Barcelona to ten men and contributed to a 3-0 defeat to Chelsea. Earlier mistakes included misjudging an aerial duel and losing defensive position in the semifinal loss to Inter Milan, a first-half sending-off against PSG while Barcelona led on aggregate, and a red card in the 4-1 Spanish Super Cup loss to Real Madrid. Coach Hansi Flick criticized the Chelsea sending-off but remained optimistic. The issue appears to involve mental composure, positioning, and timing.
Read at Barca Blaugranes
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