Barcelona defender has proven to be a match-winner for Hansi Flick this season – Report | OneFootball

Ronald Araujo is not having the easiest season of his FC Barcelona career, but he is still finding ways to decide matches. That is what makes his latest goal against Rayo Vallecano feel important beyond the three points, because it reinforced something Barca have quietly benefited from all year: when Araujo scores, it tends to matter.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Araujo’s header against Rayo gave Barcelona a 1-0 win and took his direct points contribution in La Liga to five this season. The report says he has scored three league goals in 18 appearances, with the winners against Girona and Rayo proving especially decisive.

The Girona one was huge. Araujo scored in the 90th minute to make it 2-1, effectively securing two extra points for Barca. Against Rayo, his header arrived much earlier, in the 24th minute, but it still ended up being the goal that settled the game.

His third league goal, against Oviedo, was less decisive because it came in a 3-1 win that was already under control. He has also added a fourth goal this season in the Copa del Rey, meaning he has now matched his best scoring return in a Barca shirt with four goals in all competitions.

That part is striking on its own. Araujo hit four goals back in 2021-22, but it took him 43 matches then. This season he has reached the same total in 30 games. Flick has not always used Araujo in ideal conditions. Injuries to Jules Kounde and Eric Garcia pushed him back out to the right against both Newcastle and Rayo, yet he still found a way to tilt the game in Barca’s favour.

That is why the “match-winner” label fits. Araujo has had a turbulent campaign. His struggles in big games have been well-documented and he missed a significant chunk of the season because he had to take a sabbatical from the sport.

Araujo may still divide opinion at times, but decisive defenders are rare. And under Flick, even in an uneven season, he is proving that his goals can still carry real weight.