Muriqi, a Height Challenge for a Araújo-less Barcelona

The upcoming adversary for FC Barcelona, RCD Mallorca, boasts Vedat Muriqi as their formidable offensive force. The 29-year-old Kosovar striker, standing at 1.94 meters, has become a crucial asset for Mallorca since his arrival in January 2022 from Lazio. Despite facing injuries this season, Muriqi has notched five league goals, making him one of Mallorca’s top scorers alongside Abdón Prats.

Muriqi’s career took a significant turn upon his arrival in the Balearic Islands, finding success after struggling to secure a place in Italy. His adaptation to Mallorca was swift, and under coach Aguirre, both found mutual success. With 75 appearances, 26 goals, and nine assists in the red and yellow jersey, Muriqi became Mallorca’s record signing at €8.02 million, surpassing the previous record held by Samuel Eto’o.

As FC Barcelona prepares to face Mallorca, they confront a team known for its aerial prowess, with Muriqi leading the pack. The Barça defense, missing key player Ronald Araújo (1.92m) due to suspension and Marcos Alonso (1.88m) due to injury, faces a challenge against Mallorca’s aerial threat. Muriqi’s height, combined with other tall players in the Mallorca lineup, poses a potential headache for the Barça defense, particularly in defending set-pieces.

In the first encounter this season, Mallorca troubled Barcelona with direct balls to their two forwards, causing difficulties for the Barça defense. With Araújo suspended and Alonso injured, Xavi will rely on players like Andreas Christensen, Marc Guiu, Robert Lewandowski, and Héctor Fort to counter Mallorca’s attacking strategy.

Beyond his football career, Vedat Muriqi’s life is marked by his experiences during the war in the Balkans. Born in the 1990s, Muriqi’s family had to relocate to Albania due to threats from Serbian soldiers. The war’s impact deeply affected his family, and Muriqi, who aspired to be a footballer, found solace in the sport after his father’s death. Facing skepticism from his family about pursuing football in Kosovo, Muriqi’s determination prevailed, and he went on to become a prominent figure for Mallorca.