Sofia Quijada
Barcelona head into Tuesday’s high-stakes LaLiga showdown against Atletico Madrid without two of their most influential players, as both Frenkie de Jong and Ronald Araujo have been ruled out at a critical moment of the season.
The club confirmed that De Jong is suffering from a fever, while head coach Hansi Flick revealed on Monday that Araujo will miss out due to a private personal matter. The Uruguayan defender was sent off during Barcelona’s 3-0 Champions League defeat to Chelsea last week, and reports in Spain suggest he has requested a short mental health break.
“Ronald is not ready at the moment,” Flick told reporters. “It’s a private situation. I don’t want to say more. Please also respect it.”
Both players were already absent from Barcelona’s league victory over Alavés on Saturday—De Jong due to a family issue, and Araujo because of a reported stomach issue. Their continued absence leaves Flick with a thinner defensive structure and fewer progressive ball-carrying options in midfield ahead of a game that could shape the title race.
Barcelona will also be without Fermín López and long-term absentees Marc-André ter Stegen and Gavi, further stretching squad depth in a decisive phase of the campaign.
Despite the setbacks, the reigning champions sit three points ahead of fourth-placed Atletico, and victory at Camp Nou would significantly solidify their grip on the top spot. However, from a tactical and betting perspective, the loss of De Jong’s control in midfield and Araujo’s one-on-one defensive dominance could shift the dynamics of the matchup—especially against an Atletico side known for clinical counters and physical duels.
All eyes now turn to how Flick adjusts his structure and who steps up in one of the season’s defining fixtures.