5 things Barcelona must keep in mind while rotating their squad during February

They survived a very tough October 2018. This is even tougher but if somebody could make it through this month, then it is Barcelona.

#1 Rest each of the main players for at least one game

These guys need a rest along the hectic schedule. So does the guy who is visibly blurred in the background. Look closely to find him.

This is not as hard to do and if timed to perfection then it will do wonders. Barcelona will be looking to go all-out attack in the first-leg against Madrid. Fair enough. Seal the deal in the first leg and go to the second leg maybe. But in home games in cup competitions, there is a huge rule. Don't concede an away goal.

If that's the case, then don't rest your defenders here, rest one of the forwards or midfielders. Maybe rest Rakitic, the guy has been playing for all eternity. He must be worn out. Or maybe put Rakitic as a pivot, reduce the workload, and rest Busquets. Barcelona can also afford to rest one of Messi or Suarez here but doesn't seem like it. They can start both Messi and Suarez but also start Malcom rather than Coutinho or Dembele. Seems good right?

In the next game against Bilbao. Rest one of Pique and Lenglet and maybe also Ter Stegen. If starting Alba is a necessity then no problem but it is better to substitute him around the hour mark. In the middle, put Vidal and Alena in the midfield. Let Arthur breathe easy. Use the player who rested in the Clasico as the pivot. Up front, put Kevin-Prince Boateng in with Dembele and Coutinho. Or maybe let Messi in as false-nine.

Against Valladolid, rotate like anything. It would be important. Rest Alba here and maybe Messi also. Leading up to the Champions League game, Barcelona also needs Suarez in top form, so let him play for around an hour and take him out. Start with Murillo or Vermaelen here and depending upon the situation take Pique/Lenglet out.

In this way rest the main team players all along. One by one. Keep them fresh for the Champions League game. Against Sevilla, start Prince again, with Messi in the team or start Suarez with Malcom. Start with Vermaelen and Lenglet/Pique. In the midfield, you can afford to go with both Busquets and Rakitic. In the El Clasico, choose the lineup accordingly.

How is this proposition? Well, this is my opinion and mine only, drop yours in the comments below. This article as a whole doesn't express Sportskeeda's viewpoint.