Barcelona succumbed to a third straight defeat in their so-called ‘big games’ thus far in the 2025-26 campaign on Tuesday night. This time it came against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, following on from losses to Real Madrid in El Clasico and Paris Saint-Germain. There was little denying that Barcelona were outplayed by their opponents, but there was equally little escaping Ronald Araujo’s role in that tale.
The Blaugrana began the season as one of the favourites for the Champions League, but have slid down that list in the football betting markets, and the backline may be the main issue for that. Even if Hansi Flick and the rest of the Barcelona side maintain, and with some reason, that the entire function of the team is responsible for their defensive frailties this season, the defence seems far less reliable than last season.
The departure of Inigo Martinez was painted in a positive light by Director of Football Deco, explaining that ‘one of their five central defenders had to leave’. Yet, quite clearly, no two central defenders are the same. Andreas Christensen remains a last resort for Flick, and Eric Garcia has become their best performing defender, but he makes a rather homogenous partner for Pau Cubarsi.
Then there is Araujo. In theory, the Uruguayan makes a good pair with Cubarsi, given he has the physicality, pace and aerial ability to cover some of the other’s weaknesses. His sending off against Chelsea was not his first offence though. Last season Araujo appeared in the photo finish of Francesco Acerbi for Inter’s crucial late equaliser, and again in their winner in the Champions League semi-finals.
A year prior, Ilkay Gundogan had called out Araujo for his lack of composure, allowing himself to be sent off at a crucial stage against PSG, a match which ended in a 4-1 defeat and ended their European hopes. The year before that, Araujo was identified publicly in a documentary as the weak link in Barcelona’s defence, and there too, he was found wanting.
Last January, Deco handed Araujo a new 4.5-year deal until 2030. It was not without its logic. Securing his future assured Barcelona a higher fee if they decided to sell, and acknowledged the reality that the Catalan side will struggle to spend big to bring in a top-quality defender to replace him. Converting Araujo into a reliable option was perhaps the most viable option.
Yet at this point, his shortcomings in big games have become a major deficiency of late. Like any manager, Flick’s job security is tied to his results, and there will only be so many more times he will entrust Araujo with an important role – already last season he dropped down the pecking order. Increasingly. Albeit lacking regular football, and coming back from a six-month injury at the start, Araujo looks no closer to removing doubts that he can adapt to a high line.
Roland Araujo’s sending off just before the break cost Barça the match against Chelsea FC at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night.
His exit no doubt complicated things for the team as their opponent made good use of Barça having a player less to dominate the match and create spaces to score.
Chelsea was playing at home and one can understand that quite well.
But then, how he, Araujo, bagged the first yellow card is still incomprehensible to me.
The second yellow given to him was well deserved for a very rash and needless tackle on Marc Cucutella who was not in a threatening position at that point in time.
In big, and sometimes decisive games, he is fond of committing such needless fouls arising from irrational decisions or misjudgment.
Yet one cannot ignore the fact that, he started very well in the early days if his career and thus was likened to the legendary Carles Puyol.
But, unfortunately, that is not the case today. His performances on the pitch have deteriorated in recent times, while exposing the team to avoided losses.
In all fairness, Araujo had already played his best game for Barça. He cannot do more than what he is currently doing now.
And Hansi Flick has to realise that and opt for a change in the CB position, once and for all.
And lastly, the loss or exit of Inigo Martinez is a huge blow and a big loss to Barça. And his absence in defence has exposed the weakness of the team.
It is now obvious that he was the very pillar that held Barca’s defence in good, steady shape last season.
And one cannot fail to ignore the fact that it was his exit, by way of substitution, due to injury, in the second leg match against Inter at San Siro in the semi final of last season’s UEFA Champions League, that cost Barça that match.
Thus, getting a replacement for him, Inigo Martine, should be the priority of the Manager of the team , the Sporting Director and the Board, if they desire Barça to make any meaningful impact thus season.
Visca Barça..!!!