Barcelona midfielders Pedri and Frenkie de Jong were outstanding in the 2-1 win against Newcastle United in the Champions League opener last night at St James’ Park.
While Marcus Rashford hogged the limelight for his stunning double, the midfield duo were equally influential in the victory, displaying their outstanding consistency.
Pedri pulled the strings with his usual exuberance, helping the Catalan giants dominate possession. He completed 84 passes with an accuracy of 91%, including 14 passes into the final third. He created one big chance and won the most duels in the game (nine).
On the other hand, De Jong, who was returning from injury, showed no signs of rustiness, as he anchored the midfield at ease.
The Dutch maestro nearly produced a flawless performance, registering the most number of passes (86) with a 99% success rate. His penchant for progressive carrying and passes was evident again, as he delivered 16 passes into the final third, while creating two big chances.
His defensive work was also notable, with three tackles, two interceptions and four duels won.
The duo’s rich technical proficiency helped them evade Newcastle’s relentless pressure for larger spells of the game.
De Jong and Pedri were pivotal in overcoming the first big hurdle of the season against the Magpies, showing why they are one of the best midfield partnerships in the world.
Pedri’s numbers are staggering this season. The Spanish magician ranks in the 99th percentile for progressive passes and 97th for progressive carries, whereas De Jong is also no slouch, either – 95th percentile for progressive passes and 91st for progressive carries.
The likes of Fermin Lopez, Dani Olmo, Marc Casado and Marc Bernal make Barca’s midfield one of the finest units in Europe.
De Jong and Pedri were the spine of Hansi Flick’s side that cruised to a domestic treble last season, while agonisingly exiting the semi-finals of the Champions League.
The magical duo will be looking to lead the Blaugrana to even greater heights this season.
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