Javier Mascherano Must Return to Barcelona Team for PSG Clash

Barcelona put out their "gala" XI against Sevilla at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan, except there was one name missing. Javier Mascherano.

When you look at Barcelona's biggest performances this season, the Argentine midfielder, or defender, or wherever-you-want-to-play-him-he'll-go, has always been present.

That euphoric, cleansing, 3-1 victory over Atletico Madrid after a week of crisis, Mascherano was there.

Both legs of the Copa del Rey triumph over Diego Simeone's side, Mascherano was there.

Away, against Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-final 2-1 win at the Etihad, Mascherano was there.

In the return leg, which finished 1-0 to Barcelona, Mascherano was there.

And most recently, helping Barcelona beat Real Madrid 2-1 at the Camp Nou, Mascherano was there.

He started all these games and Barcelona won them all.

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

Of course, Mascherano has also featured in games Barcelona has lost, although those haven't been his fault, per se.

What he adds is an intensity, spirit and drive that the team need. And perhaps they could have done with it during the 2-2 draw with Sevilla on Saturday.

Mascherano was put on the bench by Luis Enrique, and in the second half, as his team threw away a two-goal lead for the first time in two years, he was left there, powerless to help.

Enrique's decision to substitute Neymar for Xavi was to earn Barcelona more possession, but perhaps he should have thought about introducing Mascherano to prevent Sevilla stringing their moves together.

Angel Fernandez/Associated Press

After Gerard Pique gave the ball away to Jose Antonio Reyes in the build-up to the second goal, it seemed like there was a huge gap between the midfield and defence. Mascherano would have been munching it up.

However, Enrique shouldn't necessarily be blamed for leaving Mascherano out of the side.

Sevilla are extremely tough opposition, but you could make an argument for playing Jeremy Mathieu alongside Pique in the heart of the defence.

After a period where the latter was cold with the former, per Sport, they have formed a decent partnership.

Angel Fernandez/Associated Press

Pique has been phenomenal lately, mistake aside, while Mathieu has netted two important goals, against Real Madrid and Celta Vigo, as well as making few errors defensively.

Busquets, in midfield, is virtually immovable, and he played well against Sevilla anyway.

Furthermore, perhaps Enrique was simply keeping Mascherano fit and ready to face Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, another game where his tenacity and work ethic will be required.

That's the thing. It can't be replaced.

You might argue that Busquets is better in defensive midfield and Mathieu is better at centre-back, but to have a player like Mascherano and not use him in a huge game would be a mistake.

This is a man who would tear his own anus to help his team. He must return to the team to face PSG.