After dominating the La Liga this season, Barcelona are buzzing and their confidence is unmissable as La Blaugrana midfielder Ivan Rakitic showcased his shooting skills by scoring an curler from distance in training.
😱👏 @ivanrakitic 💙❤️ —— #fcbarcelona #Barça #igersfcb #igersBarça #rakitic #goal #soccer #football
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Rakitic has been an integral part of Barcelona since joining from fellow Spanish side Sevilla in 2014.
Playing alongside Sergio Busquets in a midfield three, the hardworking Croatian has successfully blended craft with graft and he regularly scores important goals by arriving at the right place at the right time in crunch clashes.
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Philippe Coutinho’s arrival at the Nou Camp, however, has increased the competition for places in Ernesto Valverde’s squad and it remains to be seen how all the players will fit in La Blaugrana’s system.
Arguably, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez are the only undroppable players, leaving summer signing Ousmane Dembele, Coutinho, Sergio Busquets, club captain Andres Iniesta, Paulinho, Andre Gomes, Denis Suarez and Rakitic to compete for the remaining spots in midfield and attack.
However, the fact that Barcelona are on course for a second treble in three years would suggest that Valverde will have no choice but to rotate his squad as the business end of the season nears with the games coming thick and fast.
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Topping the La Liga table by a nine-point margin after 22 rounds played, the Catalans next face Valencia in the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final on Thursday at the Mestalla.
A Suarez strike had given Barcelona a 1-0 lead to take to Valencia from the first leg and they are favourites to progress to the final.
Premier League champions Chelsea await La Blaugrana in the UEFA Champions League, but with the Blues suffering a crisis of sorts, the Catalan giants are tipped to brush aside the English outfit to reach the quarters of the elite continental competition.