Araujo: "We Learned from the Copa del Rey Match... In the Champions League, We Must Be Smart"

Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo expressed satisfaction with the 1-1 draw against Newcastle United in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16, emphasizing the importance of good preparation for the return leg.

The Uruguayan defender said after the match: "We are happy with the result; in the end, we got a draw. We didn't play at the level we wanted. We learned from the Copa del Rey match (against Atlético Madrid), but in the Champions League, we must be smart. Now we have a match at home."

Regarding the attacking performance, he added: "We wanted to push forward more and have longer possession. But we played against a strong opponent on their home ground. We leave with good feelings."

He also addressed the factor of fatigue, with Araujo stating: "This is a result of the great effort in these high-intensity matches. I must be ready when it's my turn. Pedri was a little tired, which is normal because he recently returned from injury."

Barcelona will host Newcastle in the second leg on Wednesday, March 18 (20:00 GMT), at the Camp Nou stadium.