MADRID, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona has suffered an injury setback with central defender Ronald Araujo likely to be out for around three weeks after suffering an ankle injury in Sunday's 4-1 win away to Sevilla.
Araujo had to limp out of the game early in the first half after a bad challenge from Sevilla midfielder, Saul Niguez, and he was replaced by Pau Cubarsi.
The injury is another setback to the Uruguayan, who only returned to action in January after missing the start of the season with a bad muscle injury that needed an operation.
Since returning, the powerful defender has turned in some solid displays, but has also struggled at times to adapt to the offside trap used by Hansi Flick's side and was at fault when Ruben Vargas was able to cancel out Robert Lewandowski's opening goal for Barcelona on Sunday night.
Araujo's injury leaves Cubarsi and Inigo Martinez (who has just recovered from a hamstring injury) as Barca's first-choice central defensive pairing, although Flick has also shown more confidence in Eric Garcia in recent games, with Garcia scoring on Sunday night and playing 90 minutes in Barca's Copa del Rey win in Valencia on Thursday.
Flick also has the advantage of his side's direct qualification for the last 16 of the Champions League, meaning Barcelona doesn't have a midweek match until the semifinal of the cup in the last week of February. ■
