Analysis: Sergio Busquets is wasted as an interior

Luis Enrique put out a team against Las Palmas thinking of a week which has three games, two of which are very demanding: Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday, and in the Pizjuán, Sevilla, next Saturday. With regards to midfielders, Rafinha is knocked out of action and Sergi Roberto has established himself as an excellent right back, so the choices of Luis Enrique are passing up Barça B players or rotate, as he did, leaving Iniesta on the bench and placing Mascherano in the middle, Rakitic on the right and Sergio Busquets on the left. 

Good defensive work

The 16 goals conceded, four of them in the clash with Celta, led Luis Enrique to think of a granite center field that would ensure the rapid theft of the ball and allow Ter Stegen to have a quiet game. Especially in the first half, Las Palmas attacked little (only three times), a product of advanced pressure and the great work of Sergio and Mascherano. With the goals against them, the visitors were more open after the break and had six shots, including the lucky goal by Viera. Without being an exemplary match, the team showed a good defensive attitude.

Barca recovered 63 balls, 23 of which the midfield achieved (Mascherano 11; Sergio and Rakitic, 6). However, thanks to this work in midfield, the defense experienced a more comfortable time, adding by the end of the game, 32 recoveries more. The performance of Busquets should be mentioned, for example, on the first occasion the visitors had, after 37 minutes, after Barca corner - like the one Celta used to score their third goal. Sergio crossed the field in a large individual run, which did not prevent the shot of Viera but made it more difficult.

Without participation in attack

However, Sergio went home without having enjoyed the game. Neymar touched the ball 44 times, and Suarez, despite the two goals- only 30 - well below their usual numbers but to be fair we must add, as well as - Busquets' strange position - Messi's injury was key - he is the principle creator in the side. 

Pay attention to the numbers: Sergio only touched the ball 30 times in the 90 minutes of play but Barca possession reached 70%. He did not intervene until 5 minutes in and did not play an attacking move until the 13th. Hard for someone used to playing and playing. Although in his teens Busquets played center forward he long ago lost the habit of attacking moves. In this sense, besides, it was not an easy match as Las Palmas played with a 5-4-1 which made the game very difficult between the lines. Mascherano assumed more prominence (70 touches) although it is clear that the Argentine's ability on the ball doesn't match the Catalan.

In attack, Sergio shot once (36th minute) wide of goal; He gave one ball to Neymar to create danger (32); He brought the ball out to no avail (49) and stepped three times in Javi Varas's area: continuing a play by Rakitic and Neymar with a pass too long for Munir (19), not reaching a cross by Munir (73) and, above all, helping set up the second goal for Suarez.

Assist

It was 53 minutes when Munir progressed down the right and put the ball into the area. Sergio, a makeshift center forward, surprised everyone by dummying it and allowing it to run on to Suarez. Goal. The generosity of Busquets, again. It was the metaphor of his game and of his career: always for the team even without touching the ball. 

Conclusions

Sergio finished the game playing defensive midfield when Luis Enrique replaced Adriano with Gombau (89) and Mascherano was sent to central defense. This situation is much more natural. The coach, Busquets, Mascherano and one hundred percent of football fans know that to use the Badia born man as an interior is losing the best defensive midfielder in the world and, therefore, everything that can he contribute from that position (speed of ball, fluidity in the game, rapid transitions to get the ball to the front, intelligence, etc...).

The numbers show that that what we saw on Saturday at the Camp Nou is only a resource for certain times. Busquets suffers, and the team. It's just an alternative.