FC Barcelona – La Liga Mingueza, De Jong or Umtiti could cover Araujo
EFE
F.next one Ronald Araujo‘s injury, Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman will have to think about which player he will work with Clement Lenglet in defense.
Oscar Mingueza, Frenkie de Jong and Samuel Umtiti are the three men who were able to cover Araujo, who suffered an ankle sprain in the game against Real Betis on Sunday.
In the game at the Estadio Benito Villamarin, Koeman dropped De Jong back to defense, as he prefers to team up with a left-footed center-back with a right-footed defender.
However, the absence of his fellow countryman in midfield was noticeable, especially with De Jong as one of the team’s top performers in 2021.
Therefore everything can depend on it Sergino Dest‘s condition, as if the former right back of Ajax comes into action again, Mingueza, who covers for him, could play as a center-back.
Umtiti, meanwhile, is Koeman’s third option, but it is unclear whether the Dutchman will bet on him for the next crucial Barcelona games.
The Blaugrana will face Seville in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday, for the hosting Alaves on Saturday at Camp Nou.
The next after those tests is the first leg against Paris Saint Germain in the Champions League. The competition will take place on February 16 and February in Catalonia Araujo is expected to miss that too.