Following a heavy defeat to Atlético Madrid, Barcelona are expected to tweak their starting lineup, with one of the biggest potential changes in central defence.
According to SPORT, Uruguay centre-back Ronald Araujo is in line to start alongside Pau Cubarsi at Montilivi as Hansi Flick seeks a stronger, more reliable defensive structure.
Araujo came on against Atlético when the match was already effectively decided but put in a solid shift; he had also impressed recently in the Copa del Rey tie against Albacete. Those performances, combined with a need for more physical presence at the heart of defence, explain his consideration.
That cup match was especially notable because it marked Araujo’s first start in more than two months after a spell away from competition for a mental health process. Since returning he has been working to rebuild rhythm and confidence.
Coaching staff report he is training at a high level and Flick values his strength, speed and duel ability. Pairing Araujo with Cubarsi could also allow Eric Garcia to move to right-back in Jules Koundé’s absence. The plan appears to be to ease Araujo back into the starting XI so he is match-sharp for a run of important fixtures, with defensive stability now a top priority.
