Barcelona Must Rely on Instinct as Injury Problems Limit Options for Key Clashes

At every turn, Luis Enrique is foiled. Barcelona have suffered an incredible 16 injuries this season, a barely believable figure.

Some have come and gone, such as those that affected Jordi Alba, Dani Alves, Neymar, Andres Iniesta and other first-team stars.

Rafinha's long-term knee injury, which will rule him out for most of the season, was a big blow.

But blows don't come bigger than the pain Barcelona felt when Lionel Messi hurt his knee against Las Palmas at the end of September, an injury that seems set to keep him out of the forthcoming Clasico.

When Ivan Rakitic hurt his calf against BATE Borisov on Wednesday, Lucho's thin midfield options became even slimmer.

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There's a chance the Croatian will be fit for the clash with Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on November 21, but until that is confirmed, Barcelona must operate under the assumption he will not be there.

That leaves the club searching for options against Real Madrid, with the Villarreal clash on Sunday at Camp Nou the only chance Luis Enrique has to tinker or try to search for new solutions.

It's not an ideal game to poke around in, as the Yellow Submarine are one of La Liga's stronger sides and are capable of getting a result in the Catalan capital.

In fact, with Javier Mascherano suspended, unless he utilises Gerard Gumbau or Sergi Samper, it's likely that one of Munir El Haddadi or Sandro Ramirez will play and the coach will employ his usual 4-3-3.

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The midfield will be comprised of Sergio Busquets, Sergi Roberto and Andres Iniesta, and one of Sandro or Munir will play alongside Luis Suarez and Neymar.

However, in the Clasico, you would imagine Luis Enrique to steer clear of picking one of the two young forwards given their respective goal droughts and inexperience in games of such magnitude.

Instead, Mascherano could return to the midfield, with Roberto playing out on the wing, where he was tried against against BATE Borisov before Rakitic's injury.

That would effectively be Barcelona's best XI from the fittest available players, even if the system is relatively untested.

Busquets would also be playing as an interior, which is not his preferred role, although one he is improving at every time he is deployed there.

But with that side out, led by Neymar and Luis Suarez, Barcelona would be able to rely on instinct in the Clasico.

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Sometimes the system doesn't matter. Players such as Neymar and Suarez are born to score goals, players such as Iniesta to create them and players such as Mascherano to destroy and crush opponents.

Clasicos are often breathless, end-to-end affairs, and Roberto might be required to combat the threat in midfield, especially if Real full-back Marcelo misses the game through injury.

Alvaro Arbeloa would be his likely replacement, and Barcelona won't be too concerned about him, meaning Roberto could tuck into midfield or use the flank when it suits him, based on his feelings and instinct.

The midfielder has adapted wonderfully to every situation Luis Enrique has put him in this season, including playing as a right-back during Alves' injury absence.

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Neymar always drifts and probes, coming in from the left at his whim, exploiting the gaps left by opposition players rather than following a set structure. He plays to instinct anyway.

With Suarez now comfortable in the middle instead of the role he was originally assigned at Barcelona, on the right, the position in which he made his debut in against Real Madrid, he has more freedom and is more able to play based on opportunity rather than instruction.

Of course, Barcelona would love to have their full range of players and, consequently, tactical options available to them. But even without those, they have the right profile of players to play on instinct.