Frenkie de Jong made sure on Sunday evening that Barcelona didn’t feel Pedri’s absence. After the 3-1 win over Elche, the Netherlands international received plenty of praise from coach Hansi Flick and the Spanish sports papers.
Embed from Getty Images
FC Barcelona beat Elche 3-1 yesterday at 18:30, a result that felt as important for confidence as it did for the table.
The scoreline reflected a performance full of control and purpose, even with Pedri sidelined until the international break due to a muscle injury and suspended for this specific fixture after two yellows against Real Madrid. In his absence, Frenkie de Jong partnered Marc Casadó in midfield and the 28-year-old former Ajax player delivered a standout display that shaped the rhythm of the match from start to finish.
The early tone came from Barcelona’s patient circulation and aggressive counter-press, with De Jong repeatedly offering the first outlet for the center-backs and then accelerating play through the middle third. Casadó sat a little deeper to screen transitions and recycle possession, which gave De Jong the freedom to step higher as an advanced number 8. That role suited him perfectly. He timed his surges beyond the first line, broke pressure with carries, and drew defenders out of the block to open lanes for the forwards. The effect was cumulative. Elche’s midfield collapsed toward him to stop the dribble, which in turn created pockets for Fermín López to receive diagonally and for the wide players to attack the space outside the fullbacks.
Barcelona’s attacking shape oscillated between a 4-3-3 and a 2-3-5 in settled possession, with both fullbacks selective in their overlaps. Casadó’s intelligence without the ball allowed those nuances. He stayed disciplined when the rest of the team pushed on, picked up second balls around the edge of the box, and snapped into duels whenever Elche tried to play over the first press. That security encouraged De Jong to lean into his best qualities. He constantly scanned, dropped a shoulder to glide past the nearest marker, and threaded vertical passes that broke two lines at once. When he did not receive, he still manipulated the block by dragging a midfielder with him and opening a lane for a teammate to play through.
Hansi Flick highlighted after the 3-1 win that everyone knows Pedri is an excellent player, yet the team can cope without him when the structure is right and the execution is sharp. He praised the group for taking three points and for the way they built confidence through the performance, while noting there is still plenty to improve. He also suggested the score could have been more emphatic had the team converted a higher percentage of chances. That felt fair. Barcelona created enough promising situations that a wider margin would not have flattered them.
Much of that productivity was linked to De Jong’s command of the number 8 role. His tempo control stood out, but so did his work without the ball. He pressed with timing rather than pure intensity, closing passing angles before committing, which funneled Elche into predictable clearances. Those actions gave Barcelona repeated short fields to attack. Spanish media captured that impression. AS wrote with enthusiasm about the pleasure of watching De Jong at the moment, citing not only his ability to break lines but also his relentless off-ball industry. They argued he stepped up in Pedri’s absence and provided the spark Flick needed on the night.
In Catalonia the tone was a touch more reserved in the ratings, with a 7 for De Jong, but both Sport and Mundo Deportivo agreed that he took on Pedri’s creative responsibility effectively. The consensus also elevated Fermín López as Barcelona’s best player, thanks in part to his two assists. López linked midfield to attack with crisp first touches, clever blind-side runs, and the final pass at decisive moments. Sport called it a truly excellent display, while Mundo Deportivo underlined that López looks like the Barça player in the sharpest form right now. It is no small compliment considering the competition for places in attacking midfield and the wings.
Marcus Rashford’s finish for the 3-1 stood out on a night of well-worked team moves. He drove his effort in off the underside of the bar, a strike that reflected both technique and conviction. Flick felt the English winger could have had even more to show for his efforts based on the volume and quality of chances that fell his way. Rashford himself acknowledged that point with a self-critical but positive tone, adding that he is satisfied with how he has started the season and focused on converting the next opportunities that come his way.
Beyond individual plaudits, the strategic story of the match carried weight. Barcelona controlled the central corridor with a clear plan. Casadó’s positioning anchored the team, De Jong orchestrated the progression with carries and wall passes, and López stretched the block in the half-spaces. The wide forwards alternated between hugging the touchline to pin fullbacks and making darting runs inside the channel once De Jong drew a midfielder out of place. That interplay produced a steady stream of high-value entries into the box, which explains Flick’s remark that the final score might have been even larger.
Defensively, Barcelona limited Elche to sporadic counters. When the first line was beaten, recovery runs from the midfield trio and a compact back line prevented clean looks on goal. The pressing distances between lines looked tighter than in recent weeks, and the team appeared more synchronized about when to jump and when to hold shape. Those details matter as fixtures accumulate and as the squad navigates injuries and suspensions.
As the international break approaches, the main takeaway is encouraging. Barcelona found balance without Pedri by leaning into complementary profiles. De Jong thrived as a dynamic eight who both builds and penetrates. Casadó supplied the glue between phases. López offered incision in the final third. Rashford provided the direct threat to finish actions. The 3-1 over Elche rewards that collective clarity and suggests a template the team can continue to refine when Pedri returns to full fitness. If the efficiency in front of goal climbs toward the chance creation, performances like this will translate into even more comfortable scorelines.
Updated: 10:53, 3 Nov 2025
