Tomás Araújo has six yellow cards in 17 matches this season, and Benfica's centre-back is one caution away from missing the trip to Estrela da Amadora. Four of those bookings have come in the league, while two arrived in the Europa League. The immediate issue is simple enough: if he is booked against Alverca, he sits out the next league round.
Benfica's disciplinary problem
Araújo's numbers explain why this has become a talking point. He has already picked up six yellow cards across 17 matches, which is a clear rise on last season, when he finished with seven bookings in 39 games. In 2024/25, he had just one yellow card in 45 games, so this winter spike stands out even more.
The workload has not been light. Araújo has won 66 percent of his league duels and made 44 league ball recoveries, which fits with a defender doing plenty of his work in deeper areas. He has also committed only 11 league fouls, so this is not just a case of wild tackling. A Bola put it like this: "There is, however, a price to pay and it is reflected, at this moment, in the disciplinary record."
Alverca and the next league round
Monday's match against Alverca carries the obvious risk. A Bola also said: "Suspension will come, that is true, if the centre-back is booked in Monday's match with Alverca." Benfica's next league fixture after that is the away trip to Estrela da Amadora at Reboleira on 8 November.
The bigger point for Benfica is that Araújo's aggression is now carrying a cost. He has been active, he has been effective, and he has also put himself one mistimed challenge away from leaving the team short for a key league game.
Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
