El Clasico essential reading

Ahead of Barcelona v Real Madrid, read Guillem Balague’s insight on the role of Sergio Busquets and management of Zinedine Zidane.

The two men will have a key role to play at the Nou Camp on Saturday afternoon but there is a wider story to tell about their current situations. 

Here, Sky Sports’ Spanish football expert Balague takes an in-depth look at why Barcelona manager Luis Enrique is threatening the club’s entire business model with his use of Sergio Busquets, while Zidane may have brought immediate success to Real Madrid but still has critics to answer…

Barca’s Busquets by-passed? 

Sergio Busquets was praised for his performance in Spain’s draw with England. For fans at Wembley, it was a reminder of his cool, controlled style in the middle of midfield.

Despite a high press from Gareth Southgate’s side, Busquets retained possession in tight situations and recorded a passing accuracy of 94.7 per cent.

It was the kind of performance he has made his trademark since he stepped up to the Barcelona first-team in 2008.   

In September, he signed a new long-term contract with his club, which could keep the 28-year-old at the Nou Camp until 2023.

Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu has made him one of the highest paid players in the team. It’s clear how much Barca value him.

But is that admiration reflected in the way they play?

There’s evidence to suggest that Barcelona’s shift towards a more direct style under Luis Enrique is reducing Busquets’ influence.

He’s still an important figure – but the team are no longer playing to his strengths.

Under Luis Enrique, Barcelona look to get the ball to the front three, Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez, as quickly as possible. They no longer play so many passes in midfield.

While it has resulted in Messi, Suarez and Neymar scoring huge numbers of goals, it’s an approach which can often bypass Busquets.

The number of passes Busquets is making reflects his involvement in the game.

Those numbers have steadily decreased over the past three seasons under Luis Enrique’s management.

He was making an average of 83 passes per 90 minutes in 2011/12, Pep Guardiola’s final season in charge. He’s now making just 73.3.

Generally, Busquets remains reliable in possession, as he showed at Wembley.

He has a 91 per cent passing accuracy in La Liga this season. Only two players to have played as many games as him have a better average.

But, Enrique’s direct approach means there are fewer players around Busquets in the centre of the pitch – and he’s increasingly being targeted by opposition teams. Guardiola’s Manchester City did this well.

They dispossessed him three times and forced him into giving up possession on another six occasions in their 3-1 win at the Etihad.

They also closed him off as an option for his team-mates. In the previous fixture at the Camp Nou they restricted him to just 46 touches.

Some La Liga teams have tried a similar tactic.

In Barcelona’s defeat to Celta Vigo, his passing accuracy was forced down to 89.8 per cent and he had just 60 touches of the ball.

Alaves, in their win at …

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