Barcelona's best ever XI ... The second midfielder 😎 | OneFootball

With the football on hold at the moment, we’ve been thinking about who gets in Barcelona’s all-time XI.

Yesterday we chose the first of three midfielders. Today we’re choosing the second.

Here are the nominees …

3rd – José Mari Bakero

The captain of the Dream Team, Bakero was a tireless midfielder capable of deciding matches. His career actually started as a forward, but the Spaniard quickly dropped deeper to provide a goal threat from deep while using the most of his engine and passing ability.

Bakero had such great understanding of the game and Johan Cruyff’s vision, that he frequently played as a second striker, exploiting space left by a  ‘false nine’, but also sometimes lined up right in front of the back four. Whether he was bursting into the box or helping Guardiola at the base of the midfield, he excelled.

Joining Barcelona at the age of 25, Bakero stayed for eight years. In that time he won four LaLiga titles and captained the side at Wembley as the club won their first ever European Cup.

2nd – Michael Laudrup

One of the most creative players the game has ever seen, Laudrup was a once-in-a-generation talent. A striker? An attacking midfielder? Whatever he was – and he played as both – the Dane was a genius.

Laudrup was widely considered the best passer in the world during his Barcelona days. Coupling his ability to dribble with his superb vision and his pinpoint passing was simply a dream for a coach like Cruyff and a nightmare for opponents.

In 1999 Laudrup, who later played for Real Madrid, was voted the best foreigner to play in Spain over the previous 25 years. And no wonder.

And the winner is … Xavi

The one-man passing machine. Have you ever seen another player so capable of calmly controlling a football match on his own?

Xavi was the player who set the tempo for perhaps the greatest club side to ever play the game. The perfect passing midfielder, Xavi was also an exceptional dribbler, avoiding pressing and springing into space with outrageous ease.

On the ball he always made the right choice, and that is what set him apart. Go short, go long. Play it square, break lines. Take a touch and slow the game down, play a one-two to speed it up. That trademark 360 degree turn.

And, defensively, he was a crucial cog in Guardiola’s intense pressing machine. All while, on occasion, finding the perfect moment to break out of position and surge into the box to score.

The perfect midfielder, the club’s record appearance holder and 25 trophies in 17 years with the first team. Captain fantastic.

Here’s how the team is looking so far …

GK: Andoni Zubizarreta RB: Dani Alves CB: Carles Puyol CB: Ronald Koeman LB: Sigfrid Gràcia DM: Sergio Busquets CM: Xavi

Check back tomorrow when we will be choosing the third midfielder.