Raphinha and Araujo ruled out of Barcelona’s LaLiga showdown against Osasuna, Hansi Flick announces.

Barcelona’s head coach, Hansi Flick, has confirmed that winger Raphinha and defender Ronald Araujo will miss the team’s upcoming LaLiga match against Osasuna on Thursday.

Both players participated in World Cup qualifying fixtures for their respective South American countries this week, and Flick believes it is crucial for them to rest and recover from their travels back to Spain.

Barcelona’s appeal to have the Osasuna match postponed was rejected; the fixture was originally delayed on March 8th following the passing of one of the club’s medical staff.

“They won’t be playing; they’re not part of the squad. The long flight means they need time to recuperate,” Flick stated during a press conference on Wednesday.

Raphinha started in Brazil’s 4-1 defeat to Argentina, while Araujo remained on the bench for Uruguay’s goalless draw with Bolivia.

Flick expressed his frustration over the timing of the match schedule, particularly with another game against Leganes on Saturday, April 12th, which precedes their Champions League quarter-final second leg against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday, April 15th.

“When we have away games scheduled for 9 PM, we return late, which impacts player recovery,” Flick remarked.

“This situation is disappointing. If you compare our league with others that have teams in the Champions League, it’s quite different.”

Despite the challenging schedule, Flick remains optimistic about his team’s ability to secure three points against Osasuna, further solidifying their lead in La Liga.

“We won’t make excuses; we are going for victory,” Flick asserted.

“Tomorrow, we will push forward. This squad possesses exceptional quality.

“We have the potential to win against any opponent, even with some players unavailable. We’re maintaining a forward-looking, positive mindset.”

Flick confirmed that defender Inigo Martinez will start, despite his recent exclusion from the Spanish national team, while Pau Cubarsi, who sustained an injury during international duty with La Roja, has recovered sufficiently to take a place on the bench.