FC Barcelona Vs. Shakhtar Donetsk, 2011 UEFA Champions League: Sergio Busquets Prevents Near-Certain Goal

Sergio Busquets may not be the fastest player around but his tactical awareness is unparalleled, and the ersatz centre half has just prevented an equaliser at the Camp Nou. After Douglas Costa robbed Seydou Keita in midfield and burst forward into a two on one chance with Luiz Adriano, it looked as though Shakhtar Donetsk were on the very verge of scoring, but Busquets covered the attempted centering pass expertly and managed to knock the delivery well out of harm’s way. An excellent piece of defensive work by a man who normally plies his trade in the midfield.

It’s still a very open game, though, and although that might suit Barcelona on paper it probably does them no good in practice. Are Pep Guardiola’s side even capable of closing up shop and playing defensively? Will they need to? Time will tell, but they can’t keep giving Shakhtar chances and failing to convert their own.