'A joy to watch!' - Jack Grealish in awe of Pedri and Frenkie de Jong while Paul Scholes hails Spanish midfielder as his 'new favourite' after Barcelona masterclass against Newcastle

The Catalan giants claimed a 2-1 victory over Newcastle thanks to Rashford’s brace, but it was Pedri and De Jong who controlled the rhythm from midfield. The Blaugrana frustrated Eddie Howe’s side with their composure in possession, extinguishing Newcastle’s late push after Anthony Gordon pulled one back in the 90th minute.

Scholes declared Pedri his “new favourite footballer,” posting a picture on Instagram of the 22-year-old during the game. 

Grealish, currently on loan at Everton, also weighed in. Posting on Instagram during the match, the winger wrote: “Pedri and De Jong are a joy to watch.”instagram/jackgrealish

While Rashford stole headlines with his brace, the foundation of Barcelona’s performance came from midfield. Pedri’s incisive passing and ability to link defence and attack paired perfectly with De Jong’s composure and defensive cover. Hansi Flick’s system has the stability to challenge Europe’s elite once again.

The Spaniard consistently found pockets of space to thread passes between the lines, while the Netherlands international offered balance by recycling possession and breaking up counter-attacks. Their chemistry gave Barcelona the control needed to weather Newcastle’s intensity and provided the platform for Rashford to shine in the final third.

Barca now turn their focus back to La Liga action against Getafe this weekend. The midfield pairing of Pedri and De Jong will once again be central to Flick’s approach, with their control and composure proving decisive.