Araujo’s stoppage-time strike lifts Barcelona top of La Liga

ISLAMABAD: Ronald Araujo turned saviour for Barcelona on Saturday night, scoring deep into stoppage time to secure a 2-1 victory over Girona and send the defending champions to the top of La Liga.

Deployed as an emergency striker in the dying minutes, the Uruguayan centre-back netted in the 93rd minute to hand Barca a crucial win that puts them one point clear of Real Madrid, who visit Getafe on Sunday.

The dramatic finish eased pressure on Hansi Flick’s side, who had lost their previous two league games and struggled again against a stubborn Girona outfit sitting 19th in the table.

Following two consecutive defeats, Hansi Flick’s side were just able to edge 19th-placed Girona thanks to Araujo’s late goal.

Pedri Gonzalez opened the scoring early on, but Axel Witsel levelled for Girona with a stunning overhead kick as the visitors came close to securing a deserved point.

“We didn’t play our best match but we fought to the end and scored that goal — it will give us confidence for the next matches, at least I hope so,” said Barca coach Flick.

Flick recalled teenage winger Lamine Yamal to the starting XI after he recovered from a groin injury that kept him out of Spain’s recent World Cup qualifiers.

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With several players, including Robert Lewandowski, sidelined through injury, Flick handed a league debut to 17-year-old forward Toni Fernandez.

In line with a protest organised by the Spanish footballers’ association against Barca’s upcoming match in Miami, both teams stood still for 15 seconds after kick-off.

Barca took early control and went ahead in the 13th minute when Jules Kounde and Yamal combined for Pedri to calmly slot home into the bottom corner.

Girona soon equalised through Witsel’s overhead kick in the 20th minute and continued to threaten on the counter, with Cristian Portu hitting the post and spurning two more chances.

At the other end, Marcus Rashford struck the crossbar with a free-kick as Barcelona searched for a breakthrough.

Flick surprisingly substituted Yamal and Pedri, keeping in mind Tuesday’s Champions League tie against Olympiakos and next weekend’s Clasico.

Paulo Gazzaniga denied Rashford with a fine save, while the forward also had a penalty appeal turned down.

Desperate for a winner, Flick sent on Araujo up front — and the move paid off as he converted Frenkie de Jong’s cross deep into stoppage time to seal victory.

Araujo celebrated wildly as Barca claimed a win that looked unlikely after a flat second-half display.

“At the moment we’re leading the table, so it’s a good situation — Real Madrid have to win tomorrow,” said Flick. “We’re missing the dynamic we usually have… but we needed this goal and this victory today.”

Flick was sent off late on for dissent and now faces a touchline ban for the Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu after making a gesture deemed inappropriate by Spanish officials.

Girona, meanwhile, suffered their fifth defeat of the season.

“We played a great game and had four or five clear chances — we should have scored more,” said Witsel. “It’s hard mentally to concede like that, but we’ll take the positives into our next match.”

Atletico Madrid were due to host Osasuna later on Saturday, aiming to draw level on points with Betis.