The week of Frenkie de Jong

The upswing in form for FC Barcelona under coach Xavi Hernández has seen individuals raise their game, a fact that is obvious if we take a look at the statistics. One such member of the squad is Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong. 

In the last seven days the Barça number 21 has scored twice and created another. His goals in the 4-1 win away at Valencia and the 4-2 win in the Europa League against Napoli and his assist in the 4-0 win over Athletic constituted a great week for De Jong. 

The three games saw the midfielder play 173 minutes and his first contribution came in Mestalla against Valencia when he turned home Dembélé's cross. Then, in Naples in the Diego Armando Maradona stadium he scored one of the goals of the week in European competition against the Serie A side. 

His vision in midfield means he can create as well as score. De Jong sprayed out a brilliant pass for Dembélé from which the Frenchman made it 2-0 at Camp Nou against Athletic Club in the league. All in all over the last week the Dutchman has played a part in three Barça goals, more than in his previous 32 games as a blaugrana. 

Away days 

This season, curiously enough, the Dutch international has scored all his goals away from Camp Nou. To the goals at Valencia and Napoli we can add strikes at Villarreal and at Alavés, the latter decisive as it was the only goal of the game in Vitoria. Slowly but surely Frenkie de Jong has become a vital attacking weapon in Xavi Hernández's new Barça side.