Newly crowned La Liga leaders Barcelona will also be unable to call on Frenkie de Jong against Atlético Madrid. The midfielder missed the previous match against Alavés due to personal reasons, and for Tuesday evening’s game he is ill. Barcelona announced this on Tuesday afternoon.
Embed from Getty Images
Barcelona host Atlético Madrid at Camp Nou tonight at 21:00 in one of the standout fixtures of the La Liga season, but they will have to do it without Frenkie de Jong. The Dutch midfielder has been ruled out with a fever and will miss the clash only days after making his return to full training with the squad.
In the build-up to this game, Spanish media had highlighted De Jong’s comeback on the training pitch. His sudden omission from the matchday squad for the previous league game against Alavés sparked speculation, as he was not carrying a known physical injury. At that time, coach Hansi Flick chose to keep the matter private, explaining only that the absence was due to personal reasons. The expectation was that the midfielder would be back in contention quickly and that the Alavés game would be a one-off miss.
Instead, the situation has taken a different turn ahead of the visit of Atlético. De Jong is now sidelined because of illness, with club sources confirming that he has a fever and is not in a condition to play. For a game of this magnitude, this is a significant blow. Atlético remain one of the most difficult sides in Spain to break down, and De Jong’s ability to dictate tempo, control transitions and help Barça play out from the back would have been particularly valuable.
Barcelona go into the match on a high after beating Alavés and climbing to the top of the La Liga table. That victory, combined with more dropped points from Real Madrid, has shifted momentum in the title race in favor of the Catalans. Flick’s team is still a work in progress, but the recent run of results has given supporters the feeling that Barça are starting to find a more consistent rhythm, even if performances are not yet perfect for the full ninety minutes.
Without De Jong, Flick will once again need to reshape his midfield. The Dutchman often acts as the link between defense and attack, dropping deep to receive the ball, guiding the first phase of build-up and progressing play through pressure lines. In his absence, responsibility will fall more heavily on the shoulders of players like İlkay Gündoğan, Pedri or Gavi, depending on who is fit and selected, as well as the holding midfielder chosen to protect the back line. The balance between creativity and defensive solidity in the middle of the park will be crucial against an Atlético side that can punish any loss of concentration with quick counterattacks.
This game is also an opportunity and a test for Barcelona’s younger players. Partly because of De Jong’s absence, youngsters such as Dro Fernández and Tommy Marqués have been called into the matchday squad. They are not expected to start, but their presence in such an important fixture underlines the club’s commitment to giving academy products a pathway to the first team. Even a few minutes on the pitch in a game of this profile, or simply the experience of preparing and warming up at Camp Nou on a big European night, can represent an important step in their development.
For Atlético, the news that De Jong is out will be welcomed quietly, even if public comments from Diego Simeone and his players are likely to focus on their own strengths rather than Barcelona’s absentees. De Jong’s absence removes one of Barcelona’s most press-resistant players and may encourage Atlético to press higher up the pitch, knowing that Barça will have to rely on alternative solutions to beat their aggressive midfield and front line.
From Barcelona’s point of view, the medical update is also a reminder of the fine margins involved in a long season. De Jong has already had to deal with fitness issues in recent campaigns, including muscle problems that kept him sidelined for stretches of last season. While a fever is not a long-term concern in the same way as a serious injury, every missed game counts in a tight title race, especially against direct rivals or teams habitually near the top of the table.
Supporters will now be looking to see how Flick adapts tactically without his Dutch midfielder. He could opt for a more physical presence in midfield, or he may try to compensate with extra creativity between the lines, leaning on the technical quality of his attacking players to unlock Atlético’s defensive block. Set pieces, pressing triggers and transitions are likely to play a big role, and the coach’s in-game management will be under scrutiny if the match remains finely balanced into the second half.
What is clear is that, despite sitting at the top of the table, Barcelona cannot afford to relax. Real Madrid will continue to chase, Atlético remain dangerous, and any slip in intensity can quickly change the mood around the club. A win tonight without Frenkie de Jong would not only strengthen Barcelona’s position at the summit, it would also send a strong message about the depth and resilience of Flick’s squad, and about the ability of younger players and squad options to step up when key figures are missing.
