Barcelona Crash Out of Champions League in Heartbreak as Ronald Araújo Draws Fans' Ire After Another Collapse

It was supposed to be a glorious return to Europe’s biggest stage — a semifinal rematch between two storied clubs with everything to play for. But what unfolded at the San Siro was a Champions League epic laced with drama, brilliance, and, for Barcelona, a nightmarish ending. Barça’s 3-4 defeat to Inter Milan in the second leg of the Champions League semifinal sealed their elimination by a 6-7 aggregate scoreline. In the immediate aftermath, the spotlight turned harshly — and perhaps justifiably — toward Ronald Araújo.

Once hailed as the heir to Carles Puyol’s leadership and grit, Araújo now finds himself at the center of Barcelona’s Champions League trauma. Again.

The Tactical Setup: A Risky Starting XI

Xavi Hernández, suspended but undoubtedly involved in match preparation, fielded a back line that raised eyebrows even before kickoff. With injuries and suspensions forcing rotation, Barcelona started with Pau Cubarsí and Íñigo Martínez at center-back, flanked by youngster Héctor Fort on the left and Eric García — more often a backup midfielder this season — on the right.

The system was a 4-2-3-1 that relied on quick transitions and overlapping runs, but structurally it demanded near-perfect concentration from the back line. For 75 minutes, despite Inter's attacking firepower, the strategy seemed to hold. Then came the substitution that would change everything.

Enter Araújo — and the Collapse Begins

In the 76th minute, Íñigo Martínez — already on a yellow card — was withdrawn for Araújo. It was a logical switch on paper: bring on the club’s vice-captain, a player known for his strength, aerial dominance, and recovery pace. Araújo even took the captain’s armband upon entering the pitch.

But what followed was anything but leadership.

Barcelona were ahead on aggregate when Raphinha scored in the 87th minute, making it 3-2 on the night and 6-5 overall. Most Culés believed the final was within reach. Yet in the 93rd minute, Inter struck back.

It began innocuously enough: Yann Sommer hoofed the ball upfield, Inter chased relentlessly, and the Blaugrana defense buckled under pressure. Denzel Dumfries drove down the right and squared the ball low into the area. Charging into the box was Francesco Acerbi — and shadowing him, or rather failing to shadow him, was Araújo.

The Uruguayan didn’t step in front of his man. He didn’t press. He didn’t tackle. What he did was something unfathomable for a defender in a Champions League semifinal: he jogged behind Acerbi, placed no physical pressure on him, and allowed the Inter veteran to rifle home a dramatic equalizer — 3-3 on the night, 6-6 on aggregate.

It was a moment of utter collapse. And Araújo was in the eye of the storm.

Extra Time, Extra Pain

Things would only get worse.

By the 99th minute, with both teams exhausted and the game stretched, Inter made the final, fatal incision. Marcus Thuram collected the ball on the right wing with Araújo assigned to track him. What ensued was a sequence that could be clipped into a defensive how-not-to.

Thuram twisted and turned, executing a series of feints, shoulder drops, and directional changes that recalled prime Neymar or even Leo Messi. Araújo gave ground — too much ground. He failed to press, failed to challenge, and essentially watched as Thuram danced past him to the byline.

The Frenchman then fired a low cutback to Mehdi Taremi, who neatly laid it off for Davide Frattesi to smash in the winner. Inter 4, Barcelona 3. The stadium exploded. Barça were broken.

Again, the cameras caught Araújo in the frame — out of position, flat-footed, reactive instead of proactive. The body language spoke volumes. The man who was supposed to lead by example had frozen in the most crucial of moments.

A Pattern of Pain

This wasn't Araújo’s first European meltdown. In last season's quarterfinal against PSG, he was red-carded for pulling down Barcola as the last man, a decision that catalyzed Barça’s collapse in that tie. Against Dortmund in the quarterfinals this year, it was his misjudged backpass that gifted the German side a goal.

Three critical Champions League exits. Three games where Araújo either made direct errors or failed to show the aggression and leadership expected from a player of his caliber.

And the fans have noticed.

Social Media Backlash: "You're Not the Next Puyol"

The reaction was swift and merciless. Within hours of the final whistle, Araújo's Instagram was flooded with thousands of comments — many angry, some abusive, others just heartbreakingly disappointed.

“Leave the club,” one fan wrote. “Two goals are on you. You’ve knocked us out of Europe twice.”
“You’re a mix of Maguire and Oriol Romeu,” another posted sarcastically.
“You’re not Puyol’s successor — you’re his opposite,” read one of the more scathing critiques.

In Catalan sports circles, comparisons to Gerard Piqué’s more inconsistent twilight years were also floated — a once-great defender gradually losing his decisiveness at the top level.

What's Gone Wrong?

Araújo’s regression is puzzling. At his best, he is an elite physical defender — strong in duels, fast in recovery, brave in aerial challenges. But in the high-stakes, high-speed environment of the Champions League, decision-making and positional intelligence often matter more than raw athleticism. And that’s where Araújo seems to come up short — especially when under pressure.

In the dying minutes of tight knockout games, defenders need to anticipate danger before it unfolds. Araújo, by contrast, seems caught between impulses: wanting to stay tight but not committing, hesitant in when to tackle, and unsure of when to step up or drop off.

And when you’re wearing the captain’s armband in a Champions League semifinal, hesitation is a luxury you cannot afford.

Commentary: From Future Captain to Question Mark — Araújo at a Crossroads

There was a time when Ronald Araújo was seen as Barcelona’s defensive future — a rugged leader in the Puyol mold, a cornerstone for the next decade. But after three successive seasons marred by decisive errors on Europe’s biggest stage, the narrative has shifted.

Elite football is unforgiving. It remembers. It keeps receipts.

There’s a saying in South America: “los grandes no fallan en los momentos grandes” — the great ones don’t fail in the big moments. Araújo, for all his physical tools and prior performances, is beginning to look like a player who shrinks when the lights are brightest.

For Xavi — or whoever takes the helm next — the question is no longer “Can Araújo lead us?” but “Can we trust him when it counts?”

One thing is clear: Barça can no longer afford sentimental decisions. Rebuilding a European dynasty requires more than potential — it requires composure, leadership, and above all, accountability.

Ronald Araújo is now on notice.