For Barcelona to genuinely be challenging for silverware at the end of the current campaign, Xavi will need to be able to fully utilise his first-team squad.
Games against supposed ‘inferior’ opposition, with respect, allows the coach to be able to rotate his starting XI significantly, if required.
Against Ceuta on Thursday evening, the perfect opportunity arose for those players stuck on the fringes to produce performances of note.
Performances that would give Xavi serious food for thought, both for the immediate future and towards the business end of the 2022-23 campaign.
Until just before half-time when Raphinha opened the scoring with a pinpoint low finish, there was little to write home about.