COMMENT: The midfielder made only his third start this term and claimed his 445th win for the club as Luis Enrique's side erased the memory of their midweek loss in Paris.
Xavi is back for Barcelona. The 34-year-old midfielder had played only a cameo role for the Catalan club under Luis Enrique so far this season, but was restored alongside his partners in crime, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets, on Saturday - and the outcome was a positive performance after Tuesday's defeat at Paris Saint-Germain.
The Barca captain has grown frustrated lately following a lack of opportunities as summer signing Ivan Rakitic has been preferred in midfield. Xavi, less mobile than in previous years, has had to sit back and watch from the bench as the Blaugrana began a new era in 2014-15.
But he remains important and after Barca went down 3-2 to PSG, Luis Enrique opted for a different approach at Rayo Vallecano on Saturday. Gerard Pique and Marc Bartra were back in central defence, while balance returned to the full-back positions as Jeremy Mathieu moved over to the left with Jordi Alba making way. And in midfield, Xavi was restored to the starting line-up.
This trip to Rayo was symbolic. In 2013-14, Gerardo Martino's men beat the Madrid-based side 4-0 at Vallecas but lost out in terms of possession for the first time in 317 matches. Despite the big win, that brought criticism and intense scrutiny. Luis Enrique, no doubt aware that a repeat would bring further murmurs from the Catalan press, wanted to ensure not only a win - but also the possession - with his best ball-player on the pitch.
More importantly, however, they tightened up at the back after shipping three goals as the Parc des Princes on Tuesday, in what was a comfortable win secured by fine goals courtesy of Lionel Messi and Neymar.
The win, Barcelona's 1,500th in La Liga, saw the Catalans stay top of the table after seven games with 19 points, two ahead of Valencia, who impressively beat champions Atletico (third, 14 points) 3-1 at Mestalla, while goalkeeper Claudio Bravo set a new record for minutes without conceding in the Primera Division.
It was also Xavi's 445th win in Barca colours, more than any other player has achieved in the history of Spanish football. And the midfielder showed he is far from finished yet as he refuses to settle for a secondary role under Luis Enrique.
"I want to play more," Xavi said last week. "I want to feel useful, I want to feel important. I won't settle for being on the bench." And Luis Enrique replied: "Xavi is a point of reference. He is so important to us. I love it that my players show such rebelliousness."
When he has the ball, there is still no better midfielder around. When he doesn't, Barca can be vulnerable defensively, but the right system could yet allow for his inclusion in the biggest games this term. Even at 34 and beyond his brilliant best, Xavi has so much still to offer at Barca.
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