Frenkie de Jong: third expulsion with Barcelona and out against Athletic

FC Barcelona will not be able to count on Frenkie de Jong for their next LaLiga EA Sports 2025/26 match. The 28-year-old midfielder was sent off for two yellow cards in the match against Celta de Vigo (2-4), both received in the final stretch of the game.

The Barça player received the first yellow card in the 79th minute after a slight elbow to an opponent while contesting the ball. Later, in the fourth minute of added time, the main referee Javier Alberola Rojas showed him the second yellow for stepping on Iago Aspas.

After the match, Hansi Flick lamented his absence against Athletic Club on matchday 13, although he acknowledged Frenkie's good work in midfield. "He is playing at an incredible level. It's not good not to have him in the next game. He is an important player, but we have to manage him," argued the Barça coach.

Frenkie suffered his third expulsion at Barcelona, first since 2021

23/24 was his season with the most cards (10), but the man from Gorinchem had gone just over four years without being sent off with Barcelona. The last time Frenkie saw a red was on September 23, 2021, in the goalless draw against Cádiz.

That day, the midfielder received two yellow cards in just four minutes. Previously, he was also punished with two cards against Espanyol (2-2), in his first season with the Blaugrana team. On January 4, 2020, De Jong also committed two fouls in an eleven-minute period to end up being sent off.

Against Celta, the first yellow card came in the 79th minute, meaning **there were 15 minutes between the two fouls**. As it was an expulsion for a double yellow, the '21' will only serve a one-match suspension. In the 25/26 season, the Dutchman had been cautioned against Sevilla and Girona in the League, but also against Newcastle and PSG in the Champions League.

In that regard, the disciplinary aspect will be an area for improvement for a De Jong who is not usually a hard-tackling midfielder. In his 273 appearances for Barça, he received 40 cards, averaging just 0.14 per game. This year, however, he has already been booked on 6 occasions in just 16 matches

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Frenkie de Jong's Three Red Cards with Barça

1. January 4, 2020: Espanyol 2-2 Barcelona. Sent off for two yellow cards in the 66th and 75th minutes.
2. September 23, 2021: Cádiz 0-0 Barcelona. Sent off for two yellow cards in the 61st and 65th minutes.
3. November 9, 2025: Celta 2-4 Barcelona. Sent off for two yellow cards in the 79th and 90+4th minutes.