BARCELONA – Ronald Araújo, as reported by Barcelona in a medical statement, suffers a sprained left ankle whose purpose was not reported by the Barça club, but which worries within the entity to the point that, being practically excluded for the first stage of the eighth finals of the Champions League against PSG on the 16th, could affect him in front of the return that will be played in Paris on the 10th of March.
The first examination, which the Uruguayan central defender underwent in Barcelona on Monday, confirmed the existence of a strong sprain, without excluding the fact that he could have another bone involvement that would aggravate the injury and extend the period of absence until a month, so Ronald Koeman could not rely on him, at worst, until a total of nine games, five in the league, the Champions League draw against PSG and the Copa del Rey semifinal against Sevilla, whose first stage is played on Wednesday and whose return game will be played at the Camp Nou on March 3.
The matches in the league affected would be the ones that Barça will have to play against Alavés, Cádiz, Elche, Sevilla and Osasuna.
Araújo, who the coach did not reserve on Sunday against Betis (he left Messi, De Jong and Pedri out of the starting eleven), barely played the first 12 minutes of the game, leaving the field with strong signs of pain that were already risking gravity situation and which leaves the Barcelona team very affected in their defense.
IN THE BOX
The Uruguayan defender, who has become indisputable for Koeman, joins the loss of Gerard Piqué, who has been injured since November and who has surprisingly advanced a lot in his recovery … But whose reappearance next week against PSG is too hasty.
In this way, the coach could only count on Lenglet, Umtiti and Mingueza in the center of defense … Not forgetting that the loss of Sergi Roberto leaves Sergiño Dest as the right defender available and that the young North American defender continues with discomfort, so no it would be out of the question for Mingueza to return to the band and only the French couple remains to play in the center of defense.