Pedri: 'Crack' assist and great game on his return to Barça's lineup

Published New:3/12/2025 - 01:23h

Updated New:3/12/2025 - 01:23h

Pedri started for Barça in La Liga for the first time since Matchday 10. Despite not being at 100%, the midfielder played 75 minutes at a notable level, providing the assist for the temporary 1-1 against Atlético

FC Barcelona secured another victory in LaLiga EA Sports 2025/26 thanks to a great performance from Pedri González in midfield. Against Atlético de Madrid (3-1), the player from Tegueste had a fantastic game in his return to Hansi Flick's starting lineup. The number '8' had not been a starter since matchday 10, but he proved on Saturday against Alavés that he is fit to be in the starting eleven again.

After playing half an hour against the Vitorians, Pedri shone on the Spotify Camp Nou pitch for the 75 minutes Flick kept him in action against Atlético. In total, the midfielder completed 60 out of 64 passes (94%), in addition to 4 defensive actions and 8 recoveries.

The '8' for the Blaugrana was once again the mastermind of the engine room, giving fluidity to the team's play, as well as greater peace of mind to Eric García in defensive duties. The Canary Islander won seven out of eight individual duels and three dribbles, in addition to orchestrating Flick's team's first goal.

Pedri's magical assist to start Barça's comeback

Barça started losing by a goal from Álex Baena in the 19th minute, but managed to quickly equalize thanks to a great goal from Raphinha in the 25th minute. The mastermind behind the goal, however, was Pedri, breaking through the 'rojiblanca' defense with a through ball from the center circle that allowed the Brazilian forward to get past David HanckoRapha, of course, took care of the rest with a notable finish, after dribbling past Oblak to get rid of the goalkeeper and scoring into an empty net.

**This was the Tenerife native's third assist in LaLiga 25/26**, where he has also scored a couple of goalsIn the second half, Pedri showed signs of fatigue, as did Rapha, from a very intense match. Both are working to regain their physical condition, but they are not yet at one hundred percent. After the match, Hansi Flick praised the contribution of the '8', as his presence on the field gives the team much more confidence and fluidity between the lines

"He is an exceptional player. I am happy that he has not needed time to return to his level. We saw it on Saturday and today. He has controlled the connection between defense and attack well," the German coach commented at the post-match press conference.