3 Things We Learned: FC Barcelona vs Celta Vigo

Barcelona cruised to a 5-0 win in a scintillating performance.

Sergio Busquets

The new-found balance in the midfield meant that Busquets was back to his best. He was orchestrating the game from the centre of the pitch, with his excellent range of passing and exquisite footwork. At his best, he can control games with ease, so his form is vital in determining how successful Barcelona will be this season.

Often underrated by people who don’t watch Barça play, this match was the perfect example of why he is a key part of the team. Playing one of the hardest roles in football, he effortlessly links together the attack and the defence. He always provides an option, and brings a sense of calmness to the team. Knowing when to increase the tempo to unsettle the opposition or slow things down to regain control.

There is a lot of factors that are important if Barcelona want to pull off a miracle against PSG. However, the performance of Busquets is one of the main factors. That is why the use of the 3-4-3 diamond formation is vital. Granted, Luis Enrique didn’t use it against Celta, and instead opted to use Rafinha and Ivan Rakitić in midfield, alongside Busquets, to provide the energy and dynamism needed.

The new formation is going to be needed against PSG, though, in order to get the best out of Busquets and the front three. Having that added solidity means that Busquets doesn’t have to constantly ‘put out fires”. It will also give the team more control in midfield, through the wing-backs, and this allows Busquets to focus on battling Marco Verratti for control of midfield. Gaining the upper hand here means that the front three will get more service, and that’s how they win the tie.

Ivan Rakitić

The Croatian midfielder seems to have overcome his poor first half to the season. In this match, he provided cover for Sergi Roberto, was an attacking threat down the right side, and linked up well with Lionel Messi. Overall, it was an excellent performance, and he topped it off with a goal. It was deserved, based on his performance, but he was offside. Barcelona were already up 2-0 by that point, though, so it didn’t affect the result.

His upturn in form gives Enrique a selection headache for key matches because of the wealth of options in midfield. As a whole, the midfield has been below par compared to Barcelona’s usual high standards due to injuries, poor form and players acclimatizing to the new environment. However, the majority of the players have improved recently, and the depth in that area could be vital in the last part of the season. Being able to rotate successfully and avoid fatigue is important due to the sheer amount of fixtures they have.

Starting Rakitić against PSG would be a smart decision regardless of the formation. Ideally, it would be a 3-4-3 in order to be balanced and control the midfield. He would be important in ensuring the system is fluid, pressing high up the pitch and cutting out opposition attacks. However, Rakitić is versatile enough to suit a 4-3-3 because he could ensure that Roberto isn’t left in 1v1s as well as providing the energy needed to link defence and the front three effectively.

BARCELONA, SPAIN – MARCH 04: Ivan Rakitic of Barcelona celebrates after scoring his team’s third goal during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and RC Celta de Vigo at the Camp Nou on March 4, 2017 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images) /

Sergi Roberto

The only issue from the match was Sergi Roberto’s performance. He didn’t play awful necessarily, but he continues to make mistakes in key areas. A better team would have taken those chances that came Celta’s way via his mistakes. He’s a talented player, and has done well to adjust to such an unfamiliar role, but it doesn’t suit him.