Sergio Busquets’ metronomic passing ability has never been in doubt but he took it to new levels in Barcelona’s 1-1 draw at Chelsea on Tuesday night.
The Spanish midfielder completed a whopping 128 of the 139 he attempted.
That gave him a 92 per cent pass accuracy during a pulsating Champions League knockout tie at Stamford Bridge.
Lionel Messi’s late equaliser cancelled out Willian’s opener for the hosts and gave Barca a crucial away goal ahead of the return leg at the Nou Camp next month.
The Blues will go to the Spanish league leaders on March 14 needing to better this week’s result if they are to make it through to the quarter-finals.
But if Busquets can dominate possession again as he did on Tuesday, Antonio Conte’s side will face a steep task.
Rakitic also completed 106 against Sporting Lisbon in December, the same amount managed by Busquets against Valencia earlier this month.
The Spaniard capped off his evening in typical style by picking up a late yellow card.
But his performance, which included 152 touches of the ball, drew plenty of praise from the BT Sport studio pundits.
He said: ‘He plays in second gear and I mean that in a really positive way because everything is so easy for him. One touch, two touch.’
Steven Gerrard added: ‘It’s his calmness as well. Having played against him, in the end you stop pressing him because you can’t get near him.
‘You can’t get close, if you come out of your position to press him he pops it round you. He’s an absolute nightmare to play against. He didn’t break sweat.’
He could go out there in a pair of velvet slippers and perform,’ added Rio Ferdinand.
TOP FIVE BARCELONA PASSERS THIS SEASON
Date Team Player Opponent Passes Successful
20/02/2018 Barcelona Sergio Busquets Chelsea 128
18/10/2017 Barcelona Paulinho Olympiakos 111
20/02/2018 Barcelona Rakitic, Ivan Chelsea 110
05/12/2017 Barcelona Rakitic, Ivan Sporting Lisbon106
08/02/2018 Barcelona Sergio Busquets Valencia C106