For a player who once seemed untouchable at the heart of Barcelona’s defence, Ronald Araujo’s recent performances in the UEFA Champions League have raised uncomfortable questions. The 26-year-old Uruguayan, who has worn the captain’s armband with pride, has increasingly become associated with costly errors on the biggest nights.
Barcelona’s 3-0 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last week is just the latest example. While the team was struggling to impose itself, it was Araujo’s first-half red card (his second yellow after a reckless challenge on Marc Cucurella) that effectively ended any hopes of a comeback. Forced to play more than 45 minutes with ten men, Barcelona was outmatched by a clinical Chelsea side.
This is not an isolated incident. Observers have pointed to similar missteps in previous campaigns. Last season, Barcelona’s semifinal defeat to Inter Milan saw Araujo misjudge a key aerial duel and later lose his defensive position, contributing to a late winner for the Italians. In 2024, a first-half sending-off against PSG left Barcelona vulnerable despite leading on aggregate, and in the same year, he was sent off during a 4-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup, compounding a poor defensive display.
Critics have not minced words. Pundits and fans have lambasted Araujo’s errors. Even Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick expressed frustration, calling the second yellow card “not the right move” while maintaining optimism about the team’s overall progress.
Yet there are signs that all is not lost. Observers recall the Araujo who was once the steadying presence in a shaky backline, a defender whose confidence and timing inspired trust. The challenge now is mental as much as physical: can he restore the poise that made him one of Europe’s most promising centerbacks?
Barcelona fans and analysts alike are left to weigh the stakes. Can Araujo shed the string of high-profile errors and reclaim the form that once made him a cornerstone of the Catalan defense, or has his confidence taken a blow too severe to fully recover? The coming months – and Champions League nights, if he’s trusted again – may provide the answer.
