De Jong and Griezmann make official debuts

First fixture in La Liga and first appearance in official competition in a Barça shirt for Frenkie De Jong and Antoine Griezmann. The Dutchman and the Frenchman played all 90 minutes in the 1-0 defeat against Athletic Club in San Mamés after both had featured in all five preseason games, Griezmann managing to find the net in the second game against Napoli in the USA. 

De Jong started as the holding midfielder in the middle of the park alongside Sergi Roberto and Carles Aleñá. In the second half, with the arrival of Ivan Rakitic, the Barça number 21 moved to the left hand side of the midfield and in total he completed 62 passes, a success rate of 94%. Furthermore, he won the ball back six times and completed two successful dribbles. 

Griezmann featured in a front three alongside Luis Suárez and Dembélé. Initially starting on the left, the Frenchman moved to a central role when his Uruguayan team mate was forced off due to injury late in the first half. The Frenchman searched tirelessly for his first official goal as a blaugrana but his three efforts on goal were in vain.