Araujo and Xavi Absences Loom Against Mallorca: Barça Faces Challenges in Key Clash

The upcoming clash against Mallorca will see Barcelona without two key figures, with the central Uruguayan Ronald Araujo accumulating his fifth yellow card of the season, leading to a suspension for the next Liga match. Simultaneously, Coach Xavi Hernández received a yellow card during the Athletic Club encounter, accumulating his fifth, preventing him from directing the Barça-Mallorca game from the sidelines.

A clear foul committed by Ronald Araujo on Unai Gómez will have consequences for the Uruguayan defender, marking the first time this season that Araujo will miss a match due to suspension. The central defensive position, however, provides Xavi with options, as Iñigo Martínez can seamlessly step in, and there’s also the possibility of restoring Christensen to his original position.

Xavi’s continuous dialogues with the fourth official and his protests against referees often lead to repercussions. In this instance, Xavi voiced his dissatisfaction with the lack of a fair criterion, highlighting Hernández Hernández’s oversight of clear fouls by Athletic Club players while promptly booking Araujo. Consequently, Xavi Hernández’s yellow card in San Mamés prohibits him from managing the Barça-Mallorca fixture from the bench.

For the crucial match in the 28th round of Liga, scheduled for Friday at 21:00 at the Lluís Companys Stadium, Barça’s second coach, Óscar Hernández, will have to step into the role of the head coach in Xavi’s absence.