Ronald Araujo: Goalscorer and Unexpected Hero of Barça-Girona

Published New:18/10/2025 - 20:45h

Updated New:18/10/2025 - 20:45h

Barça avoided another setback against Girona (2-1) thanks to a stunning goal from Ronald Araujo in the 90+3 minute. The Uruguayan scored his second goal of the 25/26 season, this time coming off the bench

Ronald Araujo was the unexpected hero for FC Barcelona on Saturday at Montjuïc. Against Girona (2-1), Hansi Flick's team seemed to let slip a key victory to regain the LaLiga lead, in a match where they once again suffered more than necessary in defense and lacked effectiveness in attack.

In the 82nd minute, Flick decided to put Araujo in place of Marc Casadó. What seemed to be a defensive change, rearranging a possible back three with Eric García and Pau Cubarsí, turned into a key offensive change to achieve the winning goal.

The center-back came on to play as a '9', joining Fermín López, Marcus Rashford, and Roony Bardghji in a Barça side fully committed to the win. Gazzaniga, with his saves (7), prevented another goal from the Englishman, but could do nothing against the 'charrúa's' finish in the third minute of added time.

Araujo Promised to Score the Winning Goal for Barça

Frenkie de Jong broke down the right flank to the end line. The Dutchman sent the pass into the middle of the area, where Araujo managed to anticipate Vitor Reis's mark and, like a true center forward, finish with a right-footed shot. The shot was perfect, across the net, leaving Gazzaniga with no chance.

Ronald had already scored in matchday 7 against Oviedo, with a header, and after the euphoric celebration at the end of the derby, he assessed the result in an interview for 'DAZN'.

"It got a little complicated for us, Girona stood their ground and played very well. But the important thing is that the team showed character and strength until the end and we took a very, very important victory," the Uruguayan began.

Furthermore, he revealed how he experienced the moments before entering the field and the promise that he ultimately fulfilled in the final moments of the match. "The coach asked me beforehand if I could play up front. I told my teammates when we were warming up: 'If I come on, I'll score.' And they all laughed. But it happened. Very happy," he stated.

"This team has a little bit of everything, they can play well and they can do other things, like fight to the end"

Ronald Araujo repeats his agonizing goal against Real Sociedad in LaLiga

Ronald Araujo celebrating his goal against Girona

His goal against Girona was his 12th with the Barcelona jersey in 183 official matches. Ronald Araujo had already achieved something similar on matchday 12 of LaLiga 23/24, against Real Sociedad (0-1).

The 'charrúa' scored, with a header, the winning goal in San Sebastián in the 90+2' minute of a match where the San Sebastian team was slightly superior. Against Girona, Barça clearly dominated the second half, doing enough to win a match that could have become much more complicated in the first half if Míchel's team hadn't wasted three one-on-one opportunities.

Against Olympiacos, Araujo hopes to return to the starting XI after being on the bench against PSG. Pau Cubarsí could be the 'sacrificed' one, as the '5' has not been at his best since Iñigo Martínez's departure.