Barça's Malcom curiously forgotten: No minutes in five games since Clasico goal

You spend all season in the dark, hardly given any confidence by your coach, you're drip fed minutes on the pitch and then you start the Clasico. You're under pressure to show that you are capable of playing much more. You want to show that you deserve more. You take that chance, playing a game full of personality. You're one of the most dangerous players on your team (who don't play that well, you have to say). 

But you show willing, you run at the opposition, you get the better of Marcelo and you score your side's only goal of the game, keeping them in the tie at 1-1. You receive a standing ovation when taken off in the 75th minute. Many don't even understand why you were taken off because you were doing well. But it happens. And then you disappear off the map. Not one minute in the next five games. 

Looking at that, it seems unfair what's happened with Malcom. The Brazilian is appearing very, very infrequently under Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde. There have been two moments throughout the season (the goals against Inter and Real Madrid). But the curious thing is that Valverde bet on him for the Clasico against Real Madrid at Camp Nou in the Copa del Rey semifinal first leg. 

No one expected him to start that game. Valverde showed faith in him and, as we explained, the kid responded. He got the better of Marcelo time and again and was Barça's most creative player in attack. Lucas Vazquez opened the scoring for Madrid but Malcom levelled. But in the 75th minute he was removed and he's not played one of the 450 minutes in games against Athletic, Valladolid, Lyon, Sevilla and Real Madrid (again) since.

It's true that Messi was slightly injured after the game against Valencia and Dembele was still out. But, without doubt, the former Bordeaux forward has been forgotten. It's difficult to imagine that changing on Saturday at the Santiago Bernabeu in La Liga on Saturday night. But we're prepared to be surprised...