At a glance
- FC Barcelona lost their Champions League quarterfinal first leg tie against Atletico Madrid 2-0.
- Pau Cubarsi’s red card changed the game entirely, paving the way for goals from Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth.
- But both Ronald Araujo and Hansi Flick have faith in a comeback at the Metropolitano for the decider six days from now.
FC Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo sent out a rallying cry after his team lost a Champions League quarterfinal tie against Atletico Madrid by a 2-0 margin.
The first half looked set to finish a goalless affair until Pau Cubarsi received a VAR-reviewed red card for brining down Giuliano Simeone on the edge of the box as the last man.
Barca transfer target Julian Alvarez smashed in the resulting free kick on exactly 45 minutes, and Alexander Sorloth then doubled their side’s lead with 70 down on the clock.
The Catalans now have a mountain to climb at the Metropolitano if they wish to reach the last four. But as Araujo reminded us, if it’s any outfit capable of pulling off a remontada for the ages it’s Flick’s.
Araujo believes in a miracle for the Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid second leg
Speaking to Movistar at full-time, Araujo admitted that, “we tried, but it couldn’t be done”.
“The truth is that in the second half we came out stronger. Despite playing with one less, we had the ball, but we couldn’t find a goal.
“We’re sad for the defeat, but we have the desire to come back. This team has the ability to come back and I’m convinced of it,” Araujo revealed.
“We did it many times. The truth is that it is difficult at their ground. But if there’s anyone capable of doing this, it’s us.
“We have great players, great quality, a lot of personality and we are going to go looking for it even if it is on their field. We are going to go looking for the comeback,” Araujo vowed.
Araujo has chances to start at the Metropolitano
With Cubarsi suspended, Hansi Flick has to rethink his defence now that the impressive duo with Gerard Martin is broken up.
It could again be an all-Catalan affair with Gerard and Eric Garcia, or perhaps Araujo partners one of them. Simultaneously, Eric, Araujo and Jules Kounde are all shouts for right back too.
Yet Frenkie de Jong and Marc Bernal being injured means there’s a pivot spot free as well. That’s where Eric started, before being moved to a defence that became a back three following Cubarsi’s dismissal.
