Ivan Rakitic, Andres Iniesta and Gerard Pique Swing into Form for Barcelona
Barcelona are playing well right now, and that doesn't just mean that Lionel Messi is. The Argentine has been in fifth gear lately, but the players around him have also raised their games, with Ivan Rakitic, Andres Iniesta and Gerard Pique perfect examples.
Those three have had bad spells this season, ranging from the ineffective, in the case of Iniesta, to disastrous, in the case of Pique.
Slowly but surely, however, they have begun to get their act together, and right now, they are three of the most impressive performers in Luis Enrique's side.
No. 1 and No. 2 are Lionel Messi and Neymar, without doubt. Those two are on a different level to the other players in Barcelona's armoury. But Pique, Iniesta and Rakitic have each had a big part to play in the recent displays.
Pique’s return to form is perhaps the most impressive transformation of them all. Earlier this season, he looked confused and lost. Enrique ditched him from the team after a combination of poor performances and bad behaviour.
The former Manchester United defender was the man who gave away the penalty against Real Madrid that sent Los Blancos on their way to victory in the Clasico earlier this season, and he was at fault for Sergio Garcia’s goal for Espanyol at the Camp Nou.
There have been various other errors which have blotted his copybook, but Pique’s started cleaning up his act. Against Atletico Madrid he was dominant in the air, clearing away set pieces and any balls launched into the box by Diego Simeone’s rough ‘n’ ready side.
People finally believe that Enrique has found his strongest side, and the irony is that the defence, which has been a weak point for years, is still exactly the same. Two attacking full-backs in Jordi Alba and Dani Alves, and then Pique paired with Javier Mascherano in the middle.
Jeremy Mathieu and Thomas Vermaelen were signed in the summer to fix the mess at the back, but it seems that Barcelona are still better off with what they had.
Iniesta started the season out of sorts. He didn’t look like he fitted in to the new-look side, which operates better when the ball is shuttled forward to the forwards as quickly as possible.
But in recent games, he’s occupied a slightly deeper role, where he can control the flow of the game and be the man to play in Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez.
That’s partly thanks to the ever-improving Ivan Rakitic, who, bar Messi, was the stand-out performer in Barcelona’s 4-0 thumping of Deportivo de la Coruna.
The Croatian drives forward with gusto, allowing Iniesta to drop back or flit around freely, instead of trying to force the Spaniard to play at a tempo that doesn’t suit him particularly well.
With Real Madrid faltering lately, the chance exists for Barcelona to try to progress on three fronts; the league, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League.
If these three players retain this form, then along with Messi, Neymar, the ever-reliable Mascherano and Alba, Barcelona will fancy their chances against any opponent.
.jpg?w=600 "Smackdown As It Happens ⚡️"){kind=tracking}
