Andrés Iniesta’s return to action

One of the big positives from 1-1 draw against Real Madrid on Saturday at the Camp Nou was the reemergence of captain Andrés Iniesta after 41 days on the sidelines.

The magical midfielder came on to replace Ivan Rakitic on 60 minutes with the score at 1-0, took the captain’s armband and put on a fine display.

His presence lifted the fans and also helped his teammates establish a foothold on the game, thanks to his ability to control the rhythm of the midfield.

Iniesta played a part in a key chance for Neymar Jr, whose shot went just over the bar, before playing a defence-splitting pass for Leo Messi who drove the ball wide.

He also came close to scoring himself, with a left-footed strike that was deflected into the side netting. The impact he had on the game in such little time showed just how important he is to the side, and the fact that he is now back from injury is a huge boost for Luis Enrique’s men.