Player Focus: Unassuming Busquets Crucial to Barcelona in Saturday's Clasico

As the minutes tick towards this weekend’s Clasico, it presents a number of players with the perfect chance to make himself an instant hero. The hotly contested meeting between Real Madrid and Barcelona is the most watched football match in the world and Saturday’s installment could indeed go a long way to determining who comes out on top of these two giants come May. 

Just three points separates the two teams ahead of the clash at the Bernabeu and all eyes will be on those gracing the Madrid pitch when the match gets underway. The occasion has the potential to overawe even the most steadfast footballer, though there is one who will emanate calmness, leading by example rather than barking orders across the pitch. 

Of course, the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Lionel Messi and Neymar are expected to hog the limelight, but the key man in midfield - for the visitors anyway - is the metronomic Sergio Busquets. The Barcelona star’s exploits are perhaps overshadowed by his more illustrious teammates, but the 27-year-old is no less as important than Messi, Neymar and co. A player in his position rarely gains the plaudits they perhaps deserve given the role they play. Much of their hard work goes unnoticed, while the offensive performers drag Barcelona to victory. 

It speaks volumes that of the 23 nominees for the 2015 Ballon d’Or award, six play for Barcelona, yet Busquets’ influence has been unfairly overlooked. “He’s (Busquets) in game-changing, match-winning form, setting up goals, getting his hands dirty and putting the opposition under pressure in their own half,” Xavi said of his former Barcelona teammate. Deemed by many the best holding midfielder in the game at present, the Spain international carries out his duties in the middle of the park in unassuming fashion. 

As such, his impact in this treble-winning Barcelona side can often be underestimated. Busquets isn’t a player who is going to be beat his man or net a wonder goal to secure victory. Rather, the simplicity of his performances allows those around him to flourish. The Spain international is one who has mastered the art of being in the right place at the right time to limit the threat against the Blaugrana goal. 

Barcelona’s dominance in La Liga - Luis Enrique’s men are averaging more possession per game (61.5%) than any other team this season - means Busquets is rarely called on to exhibit the defensive side of his game, but does so to a highly impressive standard when it's required. An average of 2.5 tackles per game ranks behind only Javier Mascherano (3.4) of all Barcelona players to make three or more league appearances this season. Furthermore, an average of 1.7 interceptions per league match is one of the better returns at the club. 

However, it’s his ball retention qualities that stand him in such high stead. 60.5 passes per game is the fifth most of all Barcelona players in La Liga this term, while a pass success rate of 89.9% puts him third. England bore witness to this strength of his in Spain’s 2-0 win over the Three Lions last week, where Busquets completed all 52 of his attempted passes prior to his 78th minute withdrawal. Furthermore, over the last four La Liga seasons, only Robert Trashorras (7481) has played more accurate passes than Busquets (7059), this coming despite the former making nine more appearances in that time. Given Barcelona’s dominance, it’s feasible to suggest Busquets would be top of this list had he played as many games as the Rayo Vallecano star. 

It’s these aspects of his game that will be required at the Bernabeu if Barcelona are to come away with victory. The source of Barcelona's attacks can usually be traced back to Busquets, whether be it by him dropping deep to recieve the ball from one of Claudio Bravo or Marc-Andre ter Stegen, or picking up a pass from the defence. In Rafael Benitez, though, Real Madrid have a manager who is happy to analyse the details of any game and tinker with his tactics for the good of the team. 

The Spaniard has improved the defensive structure of this Madrid side, which was highlighted in their 0-0 draw with PSG in Paris. However, all his good work could come undone with a defeat to Barcelona in front of the home fans. Benitez is already under ample pressure in the capital, with the former Liverpool boss favouring results over entertainment, something that does not sit will with the Blancos fanbase, regardless of its effectiveness. 

He is one who would indeed concoct a plan to stifle Busquets’ influence in the midfield, be it through one of the strikers dropping deep to pick up the Spaniard or demanding a midfielder press forward to effectively mark the Barcelona star out of the game. This is of the utmost importance to Madrid as they look to come away with all the spoils. While much of the focus will be on whether Messi is fit to start or not, Busquets is the vital cog that makes this Barcelona engine tick. If Madrid manage to effectively shut him down, Enrique’s side will splutter and stall. 

Left free to control proceedings in the middle of the park, however, and Busquets will pull the strings in El Clasico, of that there is no doubt. Given the franticness of this fixture, the Spain oozes the calmness to help Barcelona push on.

How big a role will Sergio Busquets have in Saturday's Clasico? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below