Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo did not hide his frustration after a controversial moment during Barcelona’s 1-1 draw with Newcastle United in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League round of 16 clash.
The incident occurred shortly before Newcastle opened the scoring at St James’ Park.
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Araujo had stepped beyond the touchline after suffering from cramps while defending a move.
The Uruguayan crouched near the sideline in an attempt to recover quickly and rejoin play without delaying the game.
However, match referee Marco Guida stopped him from immediately re-entering the pitch.
Instead, the Barcelona defender was instructed to wait and restart the action from outside the field. By the time Araujo was allowed to return, Newcastle had already built momentum in the attack.
Advantage Newcastle United
With Barcelona’s defensive structure briefly unsettled, Newcastle winger Harvey Barnes took advantage of the situation and scored the opening goal.
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After the match, Araujo admitted he was still confused about the referee’s decision and how the situation was handled.
“I don’t understand the rules,” Araujo said after the match.
The Barcelona defender then explained exactly what had happened from his point of view during the controversial moment.
“If I have a cramp, I can enter the field standing or crawling. I don’t understand the referee’s decision. He sent me off again.
Ronald Araujo was not happy with the referee. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
“Then I couldn’t get to the area. I don’t understand the referee’s decision,” said the Uruguayan.
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Match analysis
Despite the frustration over that moment, Araujo insisted that Barcelona still came away with a positive result considering the circumstances of the match.
The Catalan side managed to equalise later in the game and now return home with the tie still open.
“I’m happy with the result. We got the draw in the end. We didn’t play as well as we wanted to. We have to highlight what we learned in the Cup, the 4-0 win against Atletico.
“Today, we were smart. In the Champions League, you have to be smart. Now we’re playing at home, with our fans. It will be a great game,” he said.
Araujo also admitted that Barcelona struggled to control the game with the ball, especially against an intense Newcastle side playing in front of their home supporters.
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“We wanted to threaten more up front, have more possession. We played against a great opponent, with the stadium pushing us hard. It was a tough game.
“We’re leaving with a good feeling, because it will be decided at home,” he added.
The defender also spoke about his own physical condition after the match, admitting that the demanding schedule and the intensity of recent games have taken their toll.
“It’s the result of the effort of high-intensity matches. With continuity, I feel better. I have to be ready,” he concluded.
Source: Mundo Deportivo
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