The last time Ronald Araujo played a game for Barcelona was in the league against Real Betis in the Benito Villamarin. It was also the game where he got injured.
Araujo injured himself in a play where cleared the ball. In his attempt, he lost his footing and sprained his ankle. Suffice to say, the club has missed him.
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But the Uruguayan centre-back could be nearing a return as he took part in team training ahead of their next match. According to Sport, there is a possibility he could feature in the upcoming match against Sevilla.
In his press conference before the game against Elche, manager Ronald Koeman said he could be available this weekend or midweek in the return leg of the Copa del Rey.
However, he did not offer a specific date and said there was no concrete timetable for his return. One reason for that was because Araujo had yet to take part in training with the group.
He’s done so now, which should be a promising sign for Barcelona.
Image: Araújo is back. 🤩 [fcb] pic.twitter.com/OpODCyZbvD
— barcacentre (@barcacentre) February 25, 2021
Araujo’s injury came at the worst possible time as it forced him to miss the first leg against Sevilla in the cup and the Champions League game against PSG. Both of those resulted in losses though. While still a daunting task given how Sevilla has been playing, of the two, the 2-0 deficit does seem a likelier scenario for a Barcelona comeback.
Araújo has quickly turned himself into arguably the team’s best defender. He’s quick, reads the game well, and uses his physical strength to his advantage. Out of all the center-backs, he’s been the most consistent in his performances.
Having him back for the upcoming game or the next should provide a significant boost for a team whose struggled defensively. It should also give them more hope that they can come back against Sevilla.