"For long stretches, De Jong dictated the rhythm of the match, offering control, balance and clarity in possession during a high-pressure Clasico setting. Always available Since the first whistle, the former Ajax midfielder positioned himself as the reference point in midfield. Barcelona's ability to dominate the ball was closely tied to his presence, as he consistently made himself available between the lines, recycled possession under pressure and helped his team bypass Real Madrid's press."
"Until the final moments, when he received a red card, his performance was close to flawless. In the 90th minute, while attempting to regain possession, De Jong committed a foul on Kylian Mbappe that resulted in a straight red card. While that moment inevitably drew attention, it did little to erase the impact De Jong had already made across the previous 90 minutes."
Frenkie de Jong produced a commanding midfield performance that shaped Barcelona's 3-2 Spanish Super Cup win over Real Madrid. He repeatedly dictated tempo, provided control, balance and composure under pressure, and positioned himself as the midfield reference from the first whistle. De Jong consistently recycled possession, operated between the lines, and helped bypass Real Madrid's press, contributing to Barcelona's 68% possession. He completed the most passes in advanced zones with 22, aiding progression and chance development. A straight red card in the 90th minute for a foul on Kylian Mbappe marred the finish but did not negate his influence across the match.
Read at Barca Universal
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]