Barcelona midfielder De Jong leaves 'clasico' on a stretcher after right leg injury
Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong lays injured during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, April 21, 2024. Credit: AP/Jose Breton
MADRID — Barcelona midfielder Frenkie De Jong left the field on a stretcher with a right leg injury sustained late in the first half of the “clasico” against Real Madrid in the Spanish league on Sunday.
De Jong was hurt in a clash with Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde in first-half stoppage time at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Valverde came in hard for a 50-50 ball and struck De Jong's foot while trying to get to the ball.
De Jong immediately went down and was briefly treated by medical staff before leaving on a stretcher in obvious pain. The score was 1-1 at the time.
The Netherlands midfielder was replaced by Pedri.
Madrid entered the final clasico of the season with an eight-point lead over its rival.
