Koeman fears for position after misses Depay and red card Frenkie de Jong

Thursday, September 23, 2021 at 11:54 PM• Dominic Mostert • Last update: 00:05

Barcelona have suffered another loss of points in La Liga. Ronald Koeman’s team did not pass Cádiz in an away game on Thursday evening: 0-0. The trainer chose to field Memphis Depay, Luuk de Jong and Frenkie de Jong. Depay missed two big chances in the second half, while Frenkie de Jong received a controversial red card after two yellow prints. An angry Koeman was also sent off in stoppage time. The loss of points increases the pressure on the coach even further. He has only won one of his last five official matches.

Barcelona had the ball for much of the first half: in the first 45 minutes, the visitors had 78 percent of the ball. Nevertheless, there was little for Koeman to be happy about during the break. Barcelona created hardly any danger, were imprecise in passing and there was no line to be seen in the attacking play. Frenkie de Jong (55) and Sergiño Dest (54) had the most contact with the ball in the first half; the latter got the first chance to score in the third minute. Dest cut right back Iza Carcelén out in the penalty area and then shot high over.

After half an hour goalkeeper Jeremías Ledesma had no trouble with a shot from Depay and that is why it remained at 0-0 before half time. A low point for Cádiz was the failure of Fali Jiménez with an apparently serious injury. The defensive midfielder made a wrong move when clearing a ball, moaned in pain and was taken off on a stretcher. At the start of the second half, Cádiz had his first serious chance and almost a goal followed. Álvaro Negredo placed the ball in the top corner and saw Marc-André ter Stegen barely save.

Moments later, Depay missed a huge opportunity on the other side. After a sharp cross by Luuk de Jong from the right wing, Depay was free at the far post, but he couldn’t get his foot right against the ball. Eight minutes later, Depay did not put the ball back properly, after he took the ball in the penalty area. Halfway through the second half, Barcelona had to continue with ten men. Frenkie de Jong received his second yellow card after an alleged foul on Alfonso Espino, even though he played the ball and then withdrew his foot. Because it was not a direct red card, the VAR could not intervene.

As a result, De Jong received his second red card ever in LaLiga, after being sent off against Espanyol (2-2) in January 2020. Carlos Del Cerro Grande was also the referee then. In a one-on-one situation, Ter Stegen prevented Salvi from exploiting Cádiz’s numerical superiority. The substitute had a free passage after Riqui Puig lost the ball and encountered the keeper’s foot. Barcelona had two serious chances to win the match. Philippe Coutinho shot wide from a free kick in stoppage time, while Depay shot wide from the penalty area after good preparatory work by Gerard Pique.