1 goal, 1 assist — Underfire Barcelona midfielder shines in new role against Mallorca | OneFootball

FC Barcelona returned to winning ways in La Liga with a commanding 5-1 victory over Mallorca at the Son Moix Stadium. In what was far from an easy game on paper, considering Mallorca had conceded just five goals at home all season, the Catalans doubled that tally in a single night.

A brace from Raphinha, along with goals from Ferran Torres, Frenkie de Jong, and Pau Victor, secured the comprehensive win. However, it was Frenkie de Jong’s brief but impactful cameo off the bench that grabbed headlines.

The Dutch midfielder has faced significant criticism in recent weeks, including being booed by Blaugrana fans during the game against Brest at the Montjuïc stadium.

But against Mallorca, he looked a player reborn, thriving in an advanced role. De Jong entered the fray in the 72nd minute and made every moment count, scoring one goal and assisting another in just 18 minutes.

Photo by Rafa Babot/Getty Images

Stellar Stats in a New Role

According to SofaScore, Frenkie de Jong recorded an xG of 0.22 and an xA of 0.44, reflecting his decisive influence. He completed 4 out of 5 attempted passes, maintained a 100% dribbling success rate, and won his only ground duel.

Most notably, he operated as a #10, a position he had not played in for some time, and flourished with freedom in the final third.

This performance evoked memories of De Jong’s time under former Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman, where he was utilized as a box-crashing midfielder and delivered several key goals and assists. Against Mallorca, his late surges into the box and quick link-up play were instrumental in dismantling the opposition defense.

A Patient Comeback

De Jong admitted that patience has been essential following his return from a long-term injury, especially when asked about his limited opportunities:

“I have to be patient with everything going on. I know that’s the way it is, so I’ll keep doing what I do, working hard, head down, and at some point, we’ll see how it ends.”

While defensive lapses have been a concern for the Dutchman this season, his impressive display in an attacking role could provide a solution to those criticisms.

Future in the #10 Role at Barcelona?

The decision to play De Jong in a more advanced position could prove to be a masterstroke by manager Hansi Flick. While he may not possess the finesse of Dani Olmo or the flair of Pedri, De Jong’s ability to time his runs and impact the game in the final third adds a new dimension to Barcelona’s attack.

With this display, the 27-year-old midfielder has made a strong case for more opportunities in the #10 role. Whether Flick opts to continue this experiment remains to be seen, but if this is the beginning of a resurgence for Frenkie de Jong, Barcelona fans can look forward to more dazzling performances from their underfire midfielder.