Rakitic and Trashorras lead La Liga in passing

This Saturday in Vallecas, Rayo Vallecano and FC Barcelona will face-off in a match featuring the La Liga passing leaders. In the first six matches of the season, Barça player Ivan Rakitic and Rayo Vallecano player Roberto Trashorras sits atop the list of leaders in pass attempts. The Croatian is first with 522 passes in 508 minutes played.

Trashorras is second on the list with 491 passes in 540 minutes played. Both players also are among the top three in passes completed. Rakitic also leads that list, while the Rayo captain is third. Toni Kroos of Real Madrid is second.

Five of the top 10 in in passing

Among the leaders in completed passes Barça is well represented with five players in the top 10. Ivan Rakitic, who also reads this list with 475 completed passes, is joined by Sergio Busquets (406), Jordi Alba (343), Jeremy Mathieu (315) and Dani Alves (309).

Trashorras and Barça go way back

For a bit of nostalgia it is worth remembering that Roberto Trashorras spent time in the FC Barcelona youth development system and actually made his debut with the Club. He arrived to Barça in 1996 with just 15 years of age and was one of the outstanding players in the youth categories. When he arrived at Barça B he became a household name and got the opportunity to make his debut with the big Club under then head coach Carles Rexach. It was on August 8, 2001, in a Champions League qualifier versus Wisła Kraków, that Trashorras came on for current Barcelona head coach Luis Enrique for his official debut.

His first appearance in La Liga was at Riazor versus Deportivo. But then in the summer of 2003 the left FC Barcelona, and after spending time with several teams he finally settled down at 33 years of age playing for Rayo Vallecano on where he is now the captain and one of Paco Jemez's key players.