Ivan Rakitic has had a big week in Barcelona. After a tough start to the campaign, he seems set to have a more important role once again, as he has done in previous seasons under Ernesto Valverde.
The Croatian had started just once all season before Wednesday (away at Granada) when he was named in the team for the Champions League game against Borussia Dortmund. Frenkie de Jong, Sergio Busquets, Arthur Melo and Arturo Vidal have all been used ahead of him.
However, starting one of the biggest games of the season has had a big effect. It's been an injection of moral for the midfielder, who did well against the German side. It's far from ruled out (especially with Sergio Busquets suspended) that the former Sevilla man starts against Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano this Sunday -- the Catalan club's second big game of the week.
Rakitic has published a photograph on social media of him in training on Friday with a message full of positivity: "Looking forward to the next challenge." The next challenge could be at the Metropolitano. Or in January, when who knows what will happen now...