Barcelona handed injury boost as key player to intensify training sessions, set to return to action next month - Reports
Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo is all set to return to action in November, as per journalist Santi Ovalle. Araujo has been out since he suffered a hamstring injury while on international duty with Uruguay at the Copa America in July.
In the absence of Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen, who is also injured, manager Hansi Flick has put his faith in Pau Cubarsi and Inigo Martinez. While Cubarsi is only 17, he has already featured in 14 games this season across competitions.
The defensive duo have formed a strong partnership and conceded just 10 goals in 11 La Liga games. They even started in El Clasico against Real Madrid on October 26 as Barcelona put four past Carlo Ancelotti's side and also registered a clean-sheet.
Ronald Araujo, who joined Barcelona in the summer of 2020, has made 150 appearances for La Blaugrana and was a vital cog in their defense last season. He made 37 appearances across competitions in the 2023-24 season.
Araujo's return will be a boost for Hansi Flick's high-flying Barcelona and give them more options in defense.
How have Barcelona fared in the attacking third this season?
While Hansi Flick's Barcelona boast a solid defense, they aren't the team with the least conceded goals in La Liga this season. However, they have been the most prolific team in the Spanish top-flight, having scored 37 goals in just 11 games, of which they have won 10.
Polish striker Robert Lewandowski leads the league's goal-scoring charts with 14 goals in 11 matches. Brazilian winger Raphinha has six goals to his name and 17-year-old prodigy Lamine Yamal has five. Raphinha is at the top of the assists chart with eight, while Yamal shares second place with Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr., having set up six goals this season.
Barcelona's offensive unit has shined in the UEFA Champions League under Flick as well. After three rounds of fixtures, Barca have scored 10 goals, the second highest in the UCL's league phase alongside Bayern Munich. Only Nuri Sahin's Borussia Dortmund have netted more (12).
The Catalan giants will next take on Espanyol in La Liga on Saturday, November 3, before locking horns with Crvena zvezda on November 6 in the UEFA Champions League.