Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has confirmed that Ronald Araujo will be available for Monday's La Liga clash with Rayo Vallecano.
Dropped points for both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid on Saturday means that a victory for Barcelona on Monday evening would move them to the top of the La Liga table.
The Catalan giants were expected to be without the services of Araujo, who picked up an ankle problem during the La Liga clash with Sevilla last time out, but his fitness for the clash with Rayo has been confirmed.
"He will be on the squad list," Flick told reporters.
Barcelona are therefore expected to be without the services of just four players for their next game, with Fermin Lopez missing through suspension, while Andreas Christensen, Marc Bernal and Marc-Andre ter Stegen are injured.
© Imago
Araujo fit for Barcelona's La Liga clash with Rayo
"We don't look at the other teams. At the end, we'll look at the standings and see how we'll be. We've played some good games this year. In training, they are having a good time," Flick added.
"I have the feeling that the team want to show how good they are. It's very good for a coach, it's what you want to see. They want to train and improve. They have confidence and that comes from training and matches. Every day we want to get better and better. We have to keep going like this.
"For me, what matters is what we do. That's what we have to do. It's important to lead the standings, but the important thing is the end. It helps our confidence and belief in ourselves, but first, we have to play ourselves and win. We want to play a great game.
"I would like to always be on the top, but it shows how evenly matched La Liga is. There are many teams that can beat anyone. In every game, you start again and you have to show how good you are. Tomorrow we want to win."
© Imago
Flick hails Cubarsi after confirmation of new contract
Barcelona teenager Pau Cubarsi signed a new contract with the Catalan giants last week, and Flick spoke of the importance of having academy players in the dressing room at the club.
"It's not just Cubarsi, anyone who comes out of La Masia is special. When they were 11 years old they were already playing and celebrating like they do now. It's very important to have this atmosphere in the dressing room," he told reporters.
"They are great friends and I love it. Pau at 18 looks like a very experienced kid. He defends very well, then with the ball, he also has great quality."
Barcelona will enter the clash with Rayo off the back of three straight wins in all competitions, while they are unbeaten this year, with their last defeat proving to be a 2-1 reverse to Atletico Madrid in December.
Matt Law
