ANDRES INIESTA marched off to a standing ovation with sections of the Nou Camp support bowing down to the Barcelona icon.
The midfielder, 33, was hauled off for Paulinho in the 58th minute of El Clasico and his side were 2-1 up over Real Madrid at the time, despite being down to 10 men, before Gareth Bale hit back with an equaliser.
58. Second change for Barça:
A. Iniesta
Paulinho pic.twitter.com/ShiE0SXGk0
— FC Barcelona
(@FCBarcelona) May 6, 2018
Iniesta is off to China next year for one last big pay cheque and has been on an emotional farewell tour.
Had there been more than a few Real Madrid fans in the stadium, they may have shown their respects too, for the player who scored the winning final goal in Spain’s World Cup campaign in 2010.
Sergi Roberto was sent off for the Catalan giants for unsportsmanlike conduct in the last minute of the first half, leaving the home side a man short.
So there was an inevitable tactical change needed at the heart of midfield, with the more combative former Spurs man Paulinho chosen to replace him and protect the three points.
MOST READ IN FOOTBALL
Andres Iniesta and his incredible trophy haul
BARCELONA
La Liga x 9: 2004-05, 2005-06, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2017-18
Copa del Rey x 6: 2008-09, 2011-12, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18
Champions League: 2005-06, 2008-09, 2010-11, 2014-15
Fifa Club World Cup: 2009, 2011, 2015
SPAIN
World Cup: 2010
European Championship: 2008, 2012
Iniesta is bringing to a close his career in Catalunya after over 600 appearances for the team he grew up with.
The modest midfield maestro made his debut in the 2002-03 season and has won every prize in football, being widely considered the greatest attacking middle man of his generation.
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And he has actually made more La Liga appearances this season than last, with 27 games so far under Valverde.
As Iniesta came off, Barca were still on course for an incredible unbeaten season and a domestic double in Spain, while their fierce rivals get set to face Liverpool in the Champions League final.
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