FCBARCELONA.CAT

16.02.2010 11:00

Iniesta set for 300 games

Edgar Fornós

Andrés Iniesta is just one game away from making 300 first-team appearances for FC Barcelona and should reach the milestone this weekend against Racing Santander.

The midfield playmaker has come a long way since making his debut for the Blaugrana at the age of 18 during the 2002-03 campaign. That day he played against Club Brugge in a Champions League encounter in Belgium. Now at 25 Iniesta has become a world-renowned player after 299 matches for Barça and is fourth in the current squad in terms of appearances behind Xavi (510), Carles Puyol (470) and Víctor Valdés (339).

High praise

Following Iniesta's debut against Club Brugge the media all predicted that he had a great future ahead of him as he was praised for his technique and tenacity. While Barça went on to win that match 0-1, Iniesta himself did not look back and has gone on to become a key figure in the club's success in recent season.

Vital goal

In official matches Iniesta has scored 16 goals for the club but none have been more important than the one that he scored last season against Chelsea in the second leg of the Champions League semi finals at Stamford Bridge that put Barça into the final. His first goal for the club came on January 14, 29004 when he netted a in a 3-1 victory over Levante in the Copa del Rey.

Key player

After making his debut under coach Louis van Gaal in the 2002-03 campaign, Iniesta has been a key member of Frank Rijkaard's squad and now is seen as vital to Pep Guardiola's plans. While being seen as a central midfielder in his early days, the star has played in several different positions for Barça including in a defensive midfield role and out on both flanks supporting the main striker.

Iniesta has won no less than 11 trophies with Barça during a glittering career. He has won the league title three times, the Champions League twice, the Copa del Rey once, the Spanish Super Cup three times, the European Super Cup once and the World Club Cup once.