Barça hit by a painful injury blow ahead of Atletico Madrid clash
5 April 2026
Injury blow ahead of Atletico Madrid clash
Barça boss Hansi Flick faced a painful setback as a key defender picked up an injury ahead of the midweek trip to Atletico Madrid for the Champions League first leg.
During Saturday's La Liga clash with Atletico Madrid, Marc Bernal came on for Ronald Araujo in the 39th minute, only to leave the field later with a separate issue.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Araujo has an ankle sprain and will be out for about 10 days, ruling him out of the Champions League pairing and the local derby against Espanyol in La Liga.
Barça’s coaching staff will now prepare Bernal to feature in the return leg against Atletico Madrid as they push for progress in Europe. The setback adds to Barcelona’s defensive concerns as they navigate a crucial spell of fixtures.
What this means for Barcelona’s plans
With Araujo sidelined, Flick will reassess defensive options and could alter the lineup for the Madrid showdown.
Bernal’s availability will be closely watched, and the club will hope for a swift recovery ahead of the second leg and the domestic clash schedule.
Read also: Barcelona faces a rare upheaval as the club’s defensive stability is tested in Europe and locally.
Punchline 1: Barca’s defense is so used to taking hits that even their calendar needs a timeout. Punchline 2: If injuries were a transfer window, Barca would have a full squad by now — paperwork pending, forever.
