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BARCELONA, Spain (AP) Frenkie de Jong is already playing like the future star Barcelona hoped he would be.
The 23-year-old Netherlands midfielder, who joined from Ajax two years ago, has scored four goals this month while also playing a key part in creating other goals with his passing.
De Jong has been at his best over the past week. Last weekend, he scored one goal and set up another in a 2-0 win at Elche to lead the team with Lionel Messi suspended. On Wednesday, De Jong made a key pass that put Antoine Griezmann in position to assist Messi in a 2-1 victory at Rayo Vallecano in the round-of-16 of the Copa del Rey.
Messi finds playmaking partner in 18-year-old Pedri
By JOSEPH WILSONJanuary 7, 2021 GMT
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) When Lionel Messi links up with teenage teammate Pedro “Pedri” González, good things happen for Barcelona.
Twice in just over three weeks, Pedri has given Messi reason to smile after setting him up with spectacular assists. The versatile midfielder deftly rolled his boot over the ball to push it behind him to leave Messi free to score in Wednesday’s 3-2 win at Athletic Bilbao and in a 3-0 win at Valladolid on Dec. 22.
Talking about his assist at Bilbao, the 18-year-old Pedri said the connection with the 33-year-old Messi is working.
Messi nets 2 in Barça win at Bilbao; Atlético upset in Copa Follow Us
Question of the Day Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, celebrates after scoring his team’s third goal, with his teammate Antoine Griezmann, during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona at San Mames stadium in Bilbao, Spain, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021.(AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos) more > By JOSEPH WILSON - Associated Press - Wednesday, January 6, 2021
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) - Lionel Messi scored two goals to lead Barcelona to a 3-2 win at Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish league, while Atlético Madrid was ousted from the Copa del Rey by a third-tier side on Wednesday.
Barcelona held at home by Eibar without Messi
With Lionel Messi nursing his ankle in the stands, Barcelona fell further behind in the Spanish league on Tuesday after ceding its first-ever point to Eibar at Camp Nou.
The Canadian Press Martin Braithwaite , The Canadian Press
BARCELONA, Spain With Lionel Messi nursing his ankle in the stands, Barcelona fell further behind in the Spanish league on Tuesday after ceding its first-ever point to Eibar at Camp Nou.
Halftime substitute Ousmane Dembele salvaged Barcelona a 1-1 draw when he scored in the 67th. That cancelled out Kike García s opener 10 minutes earlier after a ball-control blunder by centre back Ronald Araújo.