Barcelona lose Ronald Araujo and Marc Bernal to injury against Atletico

Madrid—Barcelona’s injury list lengthened at the worst possible moment after defenders Ronald Araujo and Marc Bernal were both forced off during Saturday night’s La Liga meeting with Atletico at the Metropolitano.

Araujo, deployed at right-back, signalled to the bench midway through the first half and left the pitch clutching the back of his thigh. He reappeared on the touchline minutes later with an ice pack strapped to the affected area, suggesting a muscular complaint. Teenage centre-back Bernal was introduced in his place, only to last just 25 minutes; the 18-year-old went down after an aerial challenge and, following brief treatment, was helped down the tunnel in the 63rd minute.

The double setback leaves coach Hansi Flick facing a rapidly thinning rearguard ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final return leg against the same opponents. Frenkie de Jong, still working his way back from an ankle issue, has not yet received medical clearance and is expected to miss the midweek clash as well.

Barça arrived in the Spanish capital looking for a victory that would keep pressure on league leaders Real Madrid, but the 0-0 draw, coupled with the fresh casualties, has complicated the title equation. With a congested run-in that includes two more meetings with Atletico in the space of eight days, Flick must now weigh the risk of rushing senior players back against the need for points on both domestic and European fronts.

Club medics will assess Araujo and Bernal on Sunday, yet early indications suggest both are doubtful for Tuesday’s trip to the Wanda Metropolitano, leaving the Catalan giants scrambling for fit bodies at the heart of defence.