Barcelona: Ivan Rakitic could be pivotal against Manchester United

The Croatian midfielder is underappreciated by many cules, but he brings solidity to the midfield which is likely to be important against Manchester United.

Ivan Rakitic and Gerard Pique didn’t start the 4-4 draw against Villarreal and their absence showed how vital they both are to the team’s defensive structure. Ernesto Valverde ended up bringing on the Croatian for Sergio Busquets as Barcelona were able to secure a draw with two late goals thanks to Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. Villarreal made effective use of quick counters and Manchester United are likely to use them as their main attacking weapon.

In the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 clash against Paris Saint-Germain, United sat deep in a low block and absorbed pressure before launching rapid transitions that utilised the pace of Marcus Rashford and Romelu Lukaku. This approach managed to spark the unlikeliest of comebacks as they overturned a 2-0 deficit to draw 3-3 on aggregate and go through on away goals, although they were also reliant on a contentious penalty and defensive errors.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be hoping that this approach can deliver similar results against Barca. United are likely to press more aggressively at Old Trafford, but ultimately they will sit back and concede possession to the Catalans over the two legs. In Lionel Messi, Barcelona have the best player for breaking down opposition defences, so they can guarantee that they will score over two legs, especially with the other attacking weapons alongside the Argentine. Therefore, victory is dependent on if the defence can keep United’s attack at bay.

This is where Rakitic comes in because Busquets is excellent in progressing play up the pitch in the early build-up phase through the solutions he provides, however, he has only got slower with age and he was never quick to begin with, so he can be exposed in quick transitions even though he has an excellent sense of positioning. Rakitic lacks press resistance, which is often pointed out by cules and is a reason why he is unpopular among the fanbase, but he provides a varied skillset that includes defensive awareness and tireless work rate.

With Rakitic in the team, the midfield has a sense of solidity as he is able to cover for Busquets such as against quick counters, while Arthur brings control and incisiveness with his passing that makes up for Rakitic’s lack of imagination in the final third. Valverde also has Arturo Vidal if they need more physicality in midfield or an extra aerial presence as well as Carles Alena who can add flair and creativity to the midfield. Therefore, Barcelona have all the necessary tools to end their recent quarter-final curse.