Frenkie de Jong's 'special' return to Naples

Frenkie Of Jong has not characterised for having a lot of offensive presence in the Champions League. Although, in general lines, the midfield player is one of the 'engines' of the FC Barcelona, always has showed like one of the players commissioned of the 'dirty work' and, usually, moved away of the rival area. Of there that it was not one 'surprise' that, to date, in European competitions only have annotated in an opportunity.

It did it, precisely, in Diego Armando Maradona two years ago, in the turn of the 'play-offs' of the Europe League 2021/22. The Barça measured to the Naples in a meeting 'cheat' by the tie 1-1 in the Camp Nou. Of Jong was the attendant to put the 0-2 with a finish from out of the area to win to Alex Meret, the one who did not arrive to 'smell' the balloon. In this opportunity, the Catalans imposed by 2-4 in the eliminatory global and achieved, with more solvency of the expected in Italy, the pass to eighth.

It is the only target in the 59 parties in European competitions that accumulates the midfield player of 26 years (23 with the Ajax and 36 with the Barça). Neither it has stood out in the section of the assistances, put to date only registers three, as they remember from 'Sportive World'. It signed one in a Barça-Ferencvaros (5-1), to Ansu Fati, another in a visit to the Galatasaray (1-2), so that it annotated Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and another, also in Europe League, in front of the Eintracht (1-1). In the Champions, his participation in 59 presentations 'resume' in a target and assistance to his name.

Of Jong, called to be important in Naples

This Wednesday, from the 21:00 hours (9:00 PM CET), the Barça goes back to Saint Paolo with a very big challenge by in front. The Barcelona are conscious that they play a lot and that are forced to step forward in Europe after several years starred by the fusses so much in the Champions like Europe League. Of Jong splits like one of the leaders of the team and a player called to be decisive from the medullary, although in the last parties has not offered his more optimum version.

The Barça knows that there is a lot at stake and Of Jong, that in spite of his 26 years is one of the more 'veteran' of the team, will be one of the key players. Everything seems to indicate to that Xavi Hernández will go back to repeat the formula of these last weeks and in which the tulip will split from a more retarded position, beside Andreas Christensen, so that so much Ílkay Gündogan like Pedri González can advance and participate more in the attack.