4 Barcelona players who benefited from Lionel Messi's injury layoff

#3 Ivan Rakitic

Rakitic was relieved of covering holes on the right flank to focus on team play

A great player with an incredible hard-working spirit, Croatian superstar Ivan Rakitic has been one of the stand-out performers in the Barcelona camp for the past few years, and the midfielder was one of the few Barcelona superstars who enjoyed more freedom during the absence of Lionel Messi in the past few weeks.

Messi is Barca's main attacker who has been freed from covering holes and taking on defensive duties. This implies that whenever he surges forward, he leaves space behind him, and Rakitic has been the one covering the void the Argentine leaves behind, since he features right behind him on the pitch.

In Messi's absence, Ernesto Valverde decided to push Rafinha Alcantara to the right wing, and the Spaniard heavily contributed defensively, helping cover holes on the flank, and thereby granting Rakitic the freedom to play more offensively

With reduced defensive duties, the Croatian was able to contribute more to team play, linking up perfectly with his co-midfielders, and helping in moving the ball forward, as well as doing some creative work. His brilliant long pass to Jordi Alba which split Real Madrid's defense wide open in the build-up to Barca's opener in El Clasico, was a masterpiece.