Barcelona's first team resumed training after the Christmas break with an open session at Estadi Johan Cruyff, featuring returning players Ronald Araujo and Dani Olmo, as they prepare for the upcoming Catalan derby against Espanyol on January 3rd. The session was attended by over 5,500 fans and included warm-ups, ball work, and fan interactions, with coach Hansi Flick overseeing the preparations.
Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo responds to teammate Ilkay Gundogan's criticism of his red card in the Champions League match against PSG, emphasizing the importance of respecting "codes and values." Araujo's red card proved to be a turning point in the match, leading to PSG's 4-1 victory. This is not the first time Gundogan has publicly questioned his teammates, as he previously expressed disappointment with the lack of emotion and resistance from the team after a La Liga defeat to Real Madrid.
Barcelona suffered a painful 1-4 defeat to PSG in the Champions League, with Ronald Araujo's red card being the turning point in the game. The team's collapse on Europe's biggest stage raises questions about their future, as Xavi's decisions and red card do not reflect well on the coach. With the defeat, Barcelona's hopes for a strong finish to the season have been dashed, and they face an uphill battle in the title race in La Liga.
Paris Saint-Germain stages a stunning comeback to defeat Barcelona 4-1 and advance to the Champions League semi-finals, with Kylian Mbappe scoring twice. Ronald Araujo's red card proved to be the turning point, as PSG capitalized on the numerical advantage to secure a 6-4 aggregate victory.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta reportedly requested that Xavi include Ronald Araujo, Robert Lewandowski, and Ilkay Gundogan in the squad to face Antwerp, despite initially being left out. Laporta wanted to avoid players resting after a tough defeat and also considered the financial incentive of winning the game. It remains to be seen if Xavi will utilize the players, with Araujo potentially staying on the bench due to a booking risk.
Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo expressed disappointment after their 4-2 loss to Girona, acknowledging the opponent's strength and their own need for improvement. The defeat leaves Barcelona seven points behind Girona in the table. Concerns arise over Barcelona's defense, as they have already conceded 18 goals in just 16 matches this season, compared to 20 goals in 38 games last season.
Barcelona lost 2-1 to Real Sociedad in La Liga, with Martin Zubimendi impressing for the visitors and showing why Xavi wants him at Barca. Ronald Araujo's absence was notable as Barca conceded twice, taking their tally to 15 for the season in La Liga. Robert Lewandowski scored again and is inching closer to the Pichichi award. Marc-Andre ter Stegen's hopes of breaking the league record for clean sheets took a blow after conceding twice, but he still has a chance to beat it. Barca have three games left to play in La Liga.
