What Is Barcelona's Strongest Midfield Right Now?

Javier Mascherano, Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic. That is Barcelona's strongest midfield right now, by virtue of it being their only available midfield. 

Or at least only available midfield up until the point Mascherano was sent off in the team's 3-1 win over Eibar on Sunday night.

Thanks mainly to injury, the Catalans are extremely short in the centre of the pitch, with those three players having played more minutes than any other Barcelona stars this season, bar Luis Suarez.

Rafinha Alcantara is out for several months with a knee injury, while Xavi Hernandez's departure left the squad lacking strength in depth in that position anyway.

Andres Iniesta and Sergi Roberto are also both injured, but considering these are minor problems, if we ignore them, the answer to the question is different. In fact, only Sergio Busquets survives.

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Busquets has been playing in a more advanced role than he is accustomed to, with Mascherano playing in his usual holding position.

It took him a while to adjust to life there, but he is finally thriving.

Against Eibar, Busquets was one of Barcelona's best players. It was his magnificent lofted pass that played Sandro Ramirez in for what became Luis Suarez's first goal of three.

It was a ball that Xavi would have been pleased with himself.

Busquets is the best defensive midfielder in the world and is undoubtedly part of Barcelona's best midfield right now.

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Iniesta, too, would be part of the trio. The Barcelona star has not been brilliant this season, save for the odd moment in each game here and there, but he has contributed with more consistency than Rakitic.

The Croatian was a key part of Barcelona's treble success last year, but with the exception of the clash against BATE Borisov in the Champions League, during which he notched two goals as a substitute, he has been below par. 

It could be a consequence of playing too many minutes, with Luis Enrique not having many other option but to start the midfielder.

The one time he wanted to rest him, in that game against BATE in Belarus, an injury to Sergi Roberto forced Lucho to bring Rakitic on.

Iniesta, although not the creative force he was at his peak, is still one of the silkiest attacking midfielders around and is part of Barcelona's best central trio.

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The final position would then be a toss-up between Mascherano and Sergi Roberto, but this season there has only been one winner in that battle.

Perhaps, like Rakitic, Mascherano may not be playing well because he is tired.

That might not be a problem for much longer after his red card during Barcelona's 3-1 win over Eibar for swearing at the assistant referee.

He may be hit with a suspension of up to four games, though Barcelona are appealing against the decision, per Sport.

It was an ugly culmination to what has not been an impressive first portion of the season for Mascherano, who now seems to be more comfortable in defence than in midfield, despite playing for much of his career as a holding player before arriving at the Camp Nou.

On the other hand, Sergi Roberto has gone from strength to strength.

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Nobody could have predicted just how impressive he would be this term, with most expecting him to play his usual bit-part role, mainly in unimportant clashes or Copa del Rey games.

But thanks to a series of injuries he played as a right-back, and played extremely well indeed.

It has given him a lot of confidence and even back in midfield he looks a lot more decisive and able to make things happen for Barcelona.

His injury came at a cruel time, although he is only expected to be out for a few more days.

Sergi Roberto would then be the third man in Barcelona's best midfield trio.

That their best midfield and current available best midfield only share one member, Busquets, explains a bit about Barcelona's struggles in matches so far this campaign.

In fact, injuries have been the story of their season, with a dash of suspension for good measure.