Barcelona injuries: 5 replacements for Sergio Busquets

1. Denis Suarez

A logical place to start would be the man who came off the bench for him on Sunday, Denis Suarez. Since returning to the club from Villarreal in the summer for $4million thanks to a buyback clause in his contract, the former Barcelona B man has become a popular member of the squad, despite not yet forcing his way into the team on a regular basis.

Having played for Barcelona before and immersed himself in the possession based high pressure style which the team employs, Suarez has seamlessly fit in on the right hand side of the midfield trio. While replacing Busquets would require a change of role and level of responsibility, it could really be the making of the 22-year-old’s second spell with the Catalans.

The truth is, Busquets is probably the most unique player at Enrique’s disposal. There may be flashier players in the squad, those who make the magic happen on a regular basis, but Busquets’ positional sense, particularly when he dictates his area by standing in one place, coupled with his tall frame of over six foot, make him irreplaceable.

Someone has to stand in, though, and Suarez’s presence on Sunday meant a smooth transition for Barça without their key cog. Denis does not possess either of the skills which make Busquets so great, but neither will anyone else on the list, and he is able to keep the ball in the necessary manner to control games against Real Sociedad and Betis.

Against PSG it could be a different story, but Luis Enrique will cross that bridge if and when he comes to it. In the short term, Denis could be a great option.