Each team: Pedri and De Jong, Barcelona s unique midfield double core

Hupu, September 20th, reported that in the first round of the Champions League, Barcelona defeated Newcastle 2-1. The front page of the post-match headline belongs to Rashford, who scored twice, but the midfield composed of Pedri and De Jong left a sensational feeling for everyone. At St James Park, they give a feeling of floating forward, as if controlling the rhythm as they please, while Newcastle players can only leave behind a chased back.

De Jong defeated Newcastle players' attempts to regain the ball through turns and pushes, while Pedri used his skillful pause to get rid of the rhythm of the game perfectly.

On the one hand, Pedri completed 2 passes, 3 steals, won 9 confrontations, had a pass success rate of up to 91%, and had 6 regained the ball. The show climaxed in stoppage time: when the situation was at its most urgent, he managed to hold the ball at his feet. On the other hand, De Jong made only one mistake in 86 passes and regained six ball rights. Pedri and De Jong have completed 190 passes in total, while Newcastle has only 205 passes. These data all highlight the dominant performance of Barcelona's midfield dual-core.

Perhaps they are not Iniesta and Xavi, but the classic "take the ball, pass, get rid of, push" has appeared again on the land of England.