Barça's Champion League Team Lineup Unveils a Major and Pleased Surprise
Barça's Champion League Team Lineup Unveils a Major and Pleased Surprise
Barcelona's squad for this week's Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund unveiled an exciting development on Tuesday in Catalonia.
Ronald Araujo, a crucial defensive figure, was forced to depart during a Copa America quarterfinal against Brazil for Uruguay in July. Following his departure, he hasn't graced the pitch.
His absence was due to a surgery required for a torn left biceps femoral tendon. Initially, his recovery time was expected to be four months. However, his recovery extended beyond that under the supervision of new manager Hansi Flick, whom he hasn't played under since replacing the departed Xavi Hernandez.
In Araujo's absence, Pau Cubarsi and Inigo Martinez took charge at the heart of the defense and established a formidable partnership. They are renowned for their tactical use of the offside trap, demonstrating its effectiveness against Kylian Mbappe in a 4-0 victory over Real Madrid in El Clasico at the end of October.
Barca has managed well without Araujo, leading La Liga and maintaining a top-eight position in the Champions League phase. Nonetheless, boasting a globally recognized top-tier player like Araujo, linked to teams like Bayern Munich and Manchester United, is an attractive prospect for any team.
Araujo's return to training recently became noticeable, and his inclusion in the 2024/2025 squad list was made public on Tuesday in Catalonia.
Rumors of his inclusion swiftly spread, with SPORT speculating whether Araujo was simply traveling with the team to Germany, as he hadn't yet received medical clearance to play.
Barcelona later confirmed its squad list on its Catalan X account, confirming that Araujo was indeed traveling, implying he could potentially feature at the Westfalenstadion for the first time since the summer.
However, considering his extended absence, Flick is unlikely to rush Araujo back into action immediately, so Cubarsi and Inigo are expected to maintain their positions against Dortmund.
Xavi Hernandez, the former Barcelona manager, previously oversaw Araujo's performances before his departure.Ronald Araujo's return to training brings hope for Barcelona fans, as he was linked to top-tier clubs like Bayern Munich and Manchester United during his extended absence.Despite Araujo's potential return, Hansi Flick, Borussia Dortmund's manager, may still prefer to rely on Pau Cubarsi and Inigo Martinez, given their successful partnership and effective use of the offside trap.The upcoming Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund for Barcelona could see Araujo making his first appearance since the summer, if he receives medical clearance and Flick decides to incorporate him into the team.