Ranking Barcelona's Defenders on Their Ball-Playing Ability
One of the prerequisites of playing for Barcelona is a natural ball-playing ability.
Don't bother applying unless you possess a high level of technical skill with a ball at your feet and top-end passing accuracy.
Ball retention and manipulation is also a given for any Blaugrana.
Defenders are known for the way in which they build the attacks from the back, so let's take a look at which members of the Barca back line do it better than others.
8. Jeremy Mathieu
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Jeremy Mathieu has only been utilised in relatively small doses by Luis Enrique since his arrival at the beginning of last season.
Anyone who pays more than cursory attention to Barca games will probably know why.
A player who has always flattered to deceive, the Frenchman has a reasonably healthy 88.9 per cent pass-completion stat, per WhoScored.com, but he can often be found wanting in possession.
He has been caught dawdling on far too many occasions, resulting in unnecessary pressure on Barca's back line, and he has also been known to panic every so often—a big no-no at Barca.
Mathieu sometimes shifts through the gears and brings the ball out of defence, but he doesn't always find his target thereafter.
7. Adriano Correia
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Adriano Correia is enjoying something of a reprieve at Barcelona given he was intent on moving to AS Roma in the summer, according to Mundo Deportivo (via Marca).
It would appear the club don't want to blood the highly rated Alejandro Grimaldo just yet, so the Brazilian has been left to fight it out with Mathieu for the reserve left-back slot.
Being ambidextrous undoubtedly has its advantages both in play and for when Luis Enrique is considering how to assemble his team for a particular opponent.
His 88.2 per cent pass-completion rate, per WhoScored.com, is acceptable—as is the style and range of passing he brings to the side.
Whether he manages more than a handful of appearances this season is a moot point at this stage.
6. Marc Bartra
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Marc Bartra is another natural in his position, centre-back, but he lacks the consistency to be considered a permanent fixture alongside Gerard Pique.
The 24-year-old likes to assert himself when possible and calmly bring the ball out of defence, but he has overplayed far too often in so doing, leading to moves breaking down.
His 83.3 per cent accuracy, via WhoScored.com, is on the low side for Barca and could be one of the reasons why Luis Enrique still appears not to fully trust him.
This could be the final season for Bartra to impress his paymasters enough to offer him a regular tenure in the starting XI because he is getting too old to continue as a reserve.
5. Javier Mascherano
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Will El Jefe ever score a goal for Barcelona?!
Javier Mascherano doesn't often stray too far from his defensive post, but when he does, it's with purpose and relevance.
What he loses in height, he makes up for in passion and desire, and here is a player who will scrap and fight all day long in the trenches to win the ball back, recycle possession and begin a Barca move.
His 90.6 per cent accuracy, via WhoScored.com, is just one reason that sees him as the preferred defensive partner for Pique.
Tenacious and hard-working, the Argentinian remains a real crowd favourite despite making the odd glaring error.
4. Jordi Alba
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Thanks to his unbelievable pace, Jordi Alba can often cover for an occasional lack of positional nous.
Whether in attack or defence, the Flying Squirrel, as he is affectionately known, can play a bit.
His passing accuracy of 81.9 per cent, via WhoScored.com, is actually one of the lowest in the squad, but he is always available to receive the ball and looks for the most incisive, if not the easiest, passing lanes when distributing.
You don't often see Alba trying to dribble his way out of trouble, perhaps mindful of the outcome if he should lose the ball in his area of the pitch.
Technically sound, his on-pitch rapport with Andres Iniesta and Neymar down the left-hand channel is very pleasing on the eye.
There can't be too many left-backs who can compare.
3. Dani Alves
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Despite his advancing years, Dani Alves remains integral to everything that Barcelona do.
The player who has assisted Lionel Messi the most hasn't done so by accident.
Mainly short passing authors the Brazilian's natural game, and a high-end 89 per cent accuracy, via WhoScored.com, is more than acceptable for the right wing-back.
Tactically, the 32-year-old can often be found wanting, but in possession he is almost peerless in the position.
He seems to thrive on the pass-and-move philosophy of the club, as evidenced by his recent contribution against Levante. His 105 passes during that game, per WhoScored.com, was 24 more than anyone else on the pitch.
Such output isn't uncommon, and rarely is possession wasted by Alves.
2. Thomas Vermaelen
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It would appear Thomas Vermaelen's only problem is trying to stay fit enough to showcase his excellent ball-playing skills.
During pre-season and the first couple of games of 2015/16, the Belgian's level of performance harked back to his best Arsenal days.
He is a commanding presence and a player who isn't frightened to take on the responsibility in even the tightest of situations.
Vermaelen passed the ball with aplomb—with a 92.8 per cent accuracy, according to WhoScored.com —and looked well placed to give Luis Enrique food for thought before his latest setback.
1. Gerard Pique
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The cream of the crop.
Gerard Pique is everything you want in a modern-day central defender.
He hasn't covered himself in glory so far this season, earning a four-game ban for abusing a linesman and then gifting Celta Vigo two goals in his comeback game.
However, he still without a doubt the first choice in the back four when he is available.
WhoScored.com noted his passing accuracy as 93.6 per cent this season, and although slightly misleading because 2015/16 has barely begun, the same source shows it is his best passing return for Barca since 2009.
When Pique is on his game, there is no finer sight than seeing the elegant defender maraud out of the defence with the ball, spray a 40-yard pass straight to a team-mate's feet and staying forward for the return.
He will keep it simple when necessary, which is arguably just as important.
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