Araujo returned to Spain last week from his trip to Israel, where he hoped to recover from the dip in morale he suffered after the Champions League match against Chelsea, in which Barcelona lost 3-0 and he was sent off.
The trip to the Holy Land has done him a world of good. Araujo is a devout Christian and sought spiritual refuge in Jerusalem and other emblematic Christian sites. His recovery is progressing well after being granted leave by the club.
Now it remains to be seen when he will be ready to return to action. And he already has a date marked on the calendar: January 3rd. That day, Barcelona plays its first match after the Christmas break.
It won't be just any match. The opponent is Espanyol, in a clash that promises to be intriguing, not only because of the rivalry that always exists between these two teams, but also because of the excellent form the Pericos so far this season.