FCBARCELONA.CAT

17.02.2008 12:12

Well deserved rest for Iniesta

Sergi Nogueras

The game against Zaragoza was the first League encounter this season in which Andrés Iniesta hasn’t been on the pitch. Up until then the former youth team player had only missed out on the return leg in the last 16 of the King’s Cup.

After a run of 23 League matches, Andrés Iniesta has had a day off. The midfielder was the only outfield player to have played in all the fixtures so far in the 2007/08 League campaign and only goalkeeper Víctor Valdés has more game time. The break means that Iniesta will be fresher for the important clash with Glasgow Celtic on Wednesday in the Champions League.

The other missed match

Up until now Iniesta had only missed the return leg in the last 16 of the King’s Cup against Alcoyano. As the tie had virtually been settled in the first leg which Barça won 0-3, Rijkaard decided to leave Iniesta on the bench for the whole game. In the Champions League he played in all 6 matches in the group stage, while in the King’s Cup he has made an appearance in five out of six. That makes a total of 34 official matches for Barça in the last six and a half months.

Always ready

Ever since he’s been in the first-team squad, Iniesta has been one of the players most used by coach Frank Rijkaard, as can be seen from his record in the League. After 6 games in the 2002/03 season and 11 in 2003/04, the midfielder played in 37 in 2004/05. In the 2005/06 season he turned out 33 times, while last year he was again the most-used outfield player in the League playing in 37 out of 38 matches.