It's still only December, however many people now think that Real Madrid's hopes of retaining the La Liga title are over after Saturday's El Clasico result.The reigning Spanish, European and world champions lost 3-0 to Barcelona at the Bernabeu, which leaves them a whopping 14 points behind the leaders heading into 2018.Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi and Aleix Vidal scored the goals for Barca, but there were excellent performances all around the pitch, including from captain Andres Iniesta.
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Despite people questioning whether the 33-year-old still has the legs to compete at the highest level, he was as industrious as ever in the first-half before shining in the second.
Madrid have two of the world's best midfielders in Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, but there was one moment in El Clasico where Iniesta rolled back the years to quite wonderful effect.
Iniesta key in Clasico win
Iniesta missed Barca's victories over Sporting Lisbon and Villarreal earlier this month through injury, however he was fit enough to be named in Ernesto Valverde's starting XI against Real.
When the visitors were struggling, their skipper kept them in the game by using his experience and superb quality in possession to slow the tempo down.
Barca bagged two goals within ten minutes after the interval, and with the score at 2-0, Iniesta provided a truly brilliant piece of play to underline his calmness under pressure.
Iniesta bests Modric with super play
After helping Jordi Alba to clear Cristiano Ronaldo's cross into the penalty area, the Spanish midfielder needed to keep hold of the ball, but Modric was breathing down his neck.
As the Croatian pressed him towards the corner flag, Iniesta's ridiculous vision somehow allowed him to spot his teammate, and that's when the "tiki-taka" king proved he's on another level.
As you can see below, or here, he reversed the ball to Alba before running off Modric, playing a first-time pass to Sergio Busquets, ghosting past Marcelo and emerging in acres of space.
From a potentially dangerous situation, the Barca captain's outstanding one-touch pass-and-move combination managed to launch a counter-attack for the Catalans.
Iniesta was replaced by full-back Nelson Semedo in the 77th-minute, but it ended up being a virtuoso display from him, highlighting the fact that he can still dictate play in the biggest matches.
How good do YOU think this piece of play from Iniesta was? Is he still the most technically gifted midfielder in Europe? Have YOUR say in the comments box below!