The Croatian
midfielder has scored eighteen times under Luis Enrique - and a lot of those
goals have got the team out of tight situations
Ivan Rakitic signed for FC Barcelona in
the summer of 2014 and took no time at all to seize a central role in
the first team. He’s been a regular starter practically since day one and his
stats confirm what a brilliant contribution he has made to the side.
In his first two seasons, Rakitic made 51 and 57 official
appearances, and he has yet to miss out on a place in the starting XI in
competitive games this term.
His main role is as one of the cogs in the midfield machine, but
he frequently nips up to lend a hand in attack – and that leads to goals like
the header he scored on Sunday at San Mamés to secure three
points in what is never an easy away fixture.
Breaking the ice
Where the Croatia international particularly seems to excel is
at getting the team off the mark when the goals don’t seem to be coming. Of the
18 times that Rakitic has scored for Barça, no fewer than ten were
the opening goal for the team. And when Rakitic scores, Barça never lose. His
goals have come in 15 wins and just two defeats.
Particularly memorable openers from the midfield maestro were
those in his first season against Manchester City in the
Champions League round of 16, and against Juventus in the
final.
Last season, Rakitic beat the trident and everyone else to score
first against all of Betis, Rayo Vallecano, Villarreal and Bate
Borisov, each time on the road. And his total of nine meant he finished the
2015/16 season as fourth top scorer in the team, topped only by Suárez,
Messi and Neymar.
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