And it continues: Controversial penalty by Ronald Araujo in the Sevilla-Barça match

FC Barcelona suffered their second penalty against in LaLiga EA Sports 2025/26 in the visit to Sevilla. Once again, the Azulgrana team was the target of a controversial decision, this time starring Ronald Araujo. The main referee Alejandro Muñiz Ruiz, called by Carlos del Cerro Grande from the VAR, pointed out a non-existent foul by the Azulgrana captain in the 13th minute.

Araujo and Romero fought for a ball on the end line with a normal struggle. The Seville forward let himself fall as the ball went out of play, and Muñiz Ruiz initially sanctioned the goal kick. However, Del Cerro Grande asked him to wait for the review before resuming play.

Del Cerro Grande made Muñiz Ruiz change his mind with Araujo's entry

The controversial penalty by Ronald Araujo on Isaac Romero

After a few seconds of uncertainty, the Galician referee went to the monitor to review the play. In the end, the decision was to call a foul by Ronald on Isaac for a stamp by the 'charrúa' on the left leg of the Spanish attacker.

The broadcast images, however, were clear. Araujo legally covered his position, without holding, pushing, or stepping on Sevilla's '7'. But, well, LaLiga's refereeing always demands attention week after week, almost always harming the interests of a Barça that, for the fourth matchday (third consecutive), started behind on the scoreboard.

The first half for Hansi Flick's team was certainly very poor. The Seville team put effective pressure on the midfield and created many problems down the flanks for a Barcelona side lacking its usual fluidity in transition. Matías Almeyda's plan was clear: intense pressure and suffocating marking of Frenkie de Jong and Pedri to nullify Barcelona's game.

Barça experienced a similar scenario against Levante with an invented penalty

For Barça, the Sevilla match was their second penalty against them this season. In matchday 2, against Levante (2-3), the Catalans also suffered a non-existent handball by Alejandro Balde that José Morales, before halftime, took advantage of to put the Granotas up 2-0.

In the second half, the 'culés' reacted to turn around a very tough match at the Ciutat de Valencia. In the previous seven matchdays, Barça only had one penalty in their favor against Rayo, scored by Lamine Yamal. Real Madrid, on the other hand, already has 3 penalties in their favor in the tournament, two scored by Kylian Mbappé and another by Vinicius Jr.

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