Frenkie de Jong Misses Key Match Against Atlético de Madrid Due to Fever
FC Barcelona will face one of its toughest commitments of the season with a major absence. Frenkie de Jong, the brain of the midfield, will not be available against Atlético de Madrid due to a persistent fever that already kept him out of the match against Alavés. 😷
A Strategic Void in the Midfield
The unavailability of the Dutchman leaves a huge gap in the build-up play of the blaugrana team. In a setting like the Metropolitano, where pressure is maximum and ball control is vital, the absence of his pause and quality in the build-up is a first-order tactical setback for coach Hansi Flick. 🤯
Possible Midfield Replacements:- Gavi: Offers intensity and fight, but a different profile in distribution.
- Pedri: The most creative option to try to replace game generation.
- Ilkay Gündogan: Experience and arrival from the second line, although with a different role.
De Jong's fever is more persistent than the ball possession of some teams at the Camp Nou, a virus that clearly hasn't read the key matches calendar.
Concern Over Evolution and the Schedule
The fact that it is his second consecutive absence raises the alert level. It indicates that the fever has not subsided, complicating the player's recovery at a time of the season when matches come one after another without respite. The medical staff prioritizes the player's health, but the squad depth will be put to the test. ⏳
Consequences of This Prolonged Absence:- Forces an urgent reconfiguration of the midfield in a high-demand match.
- Deprives the team of a key element to unbalance on a difficult pitch.
- Adds stress to a decisive week, testing the available resources.
An Added Challenge for Flick's Project
This situation only complicates the German coach's planning even further in a delicate phase. Losing a tactical pillar like De Jong for a match of this nature is a hard blow. Barcelona will have to seek collective solutions to compensate for the absence of its orchestra director at the Metropolitano. 💥