Barça News
Iago Aspas’ free-kick goal came from a Rafinha dive and might cost Barça the title
The free-kick goal that secured Celta Vigo a point and has cost Barça the league was not deserved
Barcelona most likely lost La Liga today after tieing 2-2 with Celta Vigo in La Liga round 32 away at the Municipal de Balaidos stadium.
In the 88th minute of the game, Rafinha got awarded a free-kick from a non-existent foul, claimed to be made by Gerard Piqué. In the replay, it is quite obvious that Piqué does not even touch Rafinha.
Iago Aspas converted the free-kick into a goal, placing it in the lower corner. It is a pity that the free-kick was claimed by the Barça loanee Rafinha – especially considering that it was not a deserved one at all.
Barcelona now have to wait for Real Madrid to drop points – which does not seem very likely.
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Barcelona fans have reasons to rejoice as Ronald Araujo returns to the squad list that will take on Sevilla at the Camp Nou as part of gameweek 25 of La Liga. The Uruguayan has been one of the biggest takeaways from this season, breaking through in the heart of the defence. Injuries have curtailed his potential, though, but he returns to the squad list for the first time in five games.
Unsurprisingly, Konrad de la Fuente has been dropped out, with Ilaix Moriba getting a call-up for this game. Elsewhere, Miralem Pjanic, who was substituted off at half-time, has been dropped, with reasons undisclosed. His exclusion pretty much guarantees a spot in the XI for Sergio Busquets.
Gerard Pique was subbed out early in all three games he has played after returning from injury, and makes the squad list for this crucial tie. He is expected to get the nod ahead of Oscar Mingueza, Clement Lenglet, and Samuel Umtiti as the centre-back alongside Araujo.
Full list: Ter Stegen, Neto, Pena; Dest, Mingueza, Pique, Araujo, Lenglet, Umtiti, Alba, Firpo; Busquets, Ilaix, de Jong, Pedri, Puig, Matheus; Braithwaite, Dembele, Messi, Trincao, Griezmann
Absentees: Coutinho (knee), Roberto (calf), Fati (knee), Pjanic
The relationship between Miralem Pjanic and Ronald Araujo has been visibly toxic and it seems it has finally come at the cost of the Bosnian’s place in the squad list. It seems imminent that Koeman trusts Ilaix, a 17-year-old Barcelona B player more than a seasoned veteran like Pjanic. We can just hope that the teenager’s dynamism comes in handy against an extremely well-drilled Sevilla.