Mission impossible for Frenkie de Jong to make Clasico

Frenkie de Jong was one of the most outstanding players in the last Clasico between Barça and Real Madrid. The Dutchman completed a great game in the comeback that the Blaugrana achieved against Los Blancos on March 19th at the Spotify Camp Nou. That match ended 2-1, a result that allowed Xavi's side to go into the international break twelve points clear of their second-placed opponents.

But it wasn't all good news after 90 minutes as the midfielder ended up injured and was dropped from Ronald Koeman's Netherlands squad. The former Barcelona coach was left without one of the Dutch pillars to face France and Gibraltar in Euro 2024 qualifiers to be played in Germany.

Barça issued a medical statement explaining that the player "has an injury to the biceps femoris in his right thigh". The statement did not specify how long De Jong would be out for, although there was speculation that he would be out for three weeks. Nevertheless, the aim was to take advantage of the break in club football to try to be fit for the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final on Wednesday April 5th, when Real Madrid visit the Spotify Camp Nou after a 1-0 first leg defeat.

Frenkie missed last Saturday's trip to Elche and, in that sense, it is virtually impossible that he will be able to help the team on Wednesday. The Dutchman is not feeling well and will undergo a final test on Tuesday in the session prior to the Clasico, although the dressing room is not optimistic that the midfielder will be able to make the squad.

De Jong is not there yet and, despite the importance of the clash, with a final on the horizon, it would be imprudent to force the issue and lose him for the next few weeks, with the league title still at stake. The advantage at the top of the table is important, but there are still many points at stake and Xavi cannot lose players of his stature before the final stretch of the season, with Pedri, Christensen and Dembele still on the sidelines.