Christensen, solid at the back

Andreas Christensen has become a fundamental part of the Xavi Hernández game-plan. He gained huge amounts of praise for his performance in the Spanish Super Cup, but since returning from the World Cup he has featured in every game apart the cup tie at Intercity, and has started all of them apart from last week's game with Betis.

He has started 10 of the 12 games he's appeared in this season, while also impressing for Denmark despite their early exit from Qatar, scoring one goal.

Secure on the ball

With Araujo and Koundé on the right, Christensen has become one of the main paths for getting the ball out from the back, something he proved especially adept at doing in the Super Cup final against Real Madrid.

Only one of his 63 passes failed to find its man, and he only lost the ball twice in 68 interventions. He also won three of his four duels. And that was nothing new. The Dane delivered similar stats in the game away to Atlético Madrid.

Not bad for a man who arrived on a free transfer from Chelsea and made his debut against Rayo Vallecano in the first Liga fixture of the season. He was playing some games and sitting out others prior to his injury away to Inter Milan. Barça suffered Champions League elimination and defeat in El Clásico while he was out for a month. Since returning to action, he has practically become an ever-present.