Dec 5, 2017 at 7.45pm UK at ​Camp Nou
Attendance: 48,336
Barcelona
2-0
Sporting Lisbon
Alcacer (59'), Mathieu (90' og.)
Semedo (35')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Ruiz (30')

Team News: Lionel Messi on Barcelona bench

Team News: Messi on Barcelona bench
© Offside
Lionel Messi drops to the bench for Barcelona's final Champions League group game against Sporting Lisbon.

Lionel Messi has been dropped to the bench for Barcelona's final Champions League group game against Sporting Lisbon this evening.

With qualification to the next stage as Group D champions already confirmed, Ernesto Valverde makes eight changes to his starting XI following the disappointing 2-2 draw with Celta Vigo on Saturday.

Only Gerard Pique, Ivan Rakitic and Luis Suarez keep their places in the lineup against the Portuguese side, with Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Sergi Roberto, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets and Paulinho all joining Messi among the subs.

Samuel Umtiti and Andres Iniesta both miss tonight's game entirely due to respective muscular injuries.

Suarez is expected to be be joined up front by Paco Alcacer and Aleix Vidal, while Denis Suarez and Andre Gomes come into the middle of the park alongside Rakitic.

Thomas Vermaelen partners Pique in the heart of the defence, with Nelson Semedo on the right, Lucas Digne at left-back and Jasper Cillessen in between the sticks.

As for Sporting, Jorge Jesus makes four changes from the 1-0 league victory over Belenenses last Friday, with Alan Ruiz back in the starting XI and expected to lead the line with support from Bruno Fernandes, Marcos Acuna, William Carvalho and the returning Stefan Ristovski and Rodrigo Battaglia.

Bruno Cesar joins an otherwise-unchanged backline of Cristiano Piccini, Sebastian Coates and Jeremy Mathieu, while Rui Patricio is in goal.

Options on the bench for Jesus include Bas Dost, Gelson Martins and Daniel Podence.

Barcelona: Cillessen; Semedo, Vermaelen, Pique, Digne; Rakitic, Gomes, D.Suarez; L.Suarez, Alcacer, Vidal
Subs: Ter Stegen, Busquets, Messi, Paulinho, Deulofeu, Alba, S.Roberto

Sporting Lisbon: Patricio; Piccini, Coates, Mathieu, Bruno Cesar; Battaglia, Carvalho; Ristovski, Fernandes, Acuna; Ruiz
Subs: Coentrao, Dost, Martins, Palhinha, Pinto, Podence, Salin

Keep up with all of the action from Camp Nou this evening with Sports Mole's live text commentary here.

Barcelona's French defender Jeremy Mathieu celebrates after scoring a goal next to Real Madrid's defender Sergio Ramos during the 'clasico' Spanish league football match FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid CF at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on March 22, 2015
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2Valencia15104135142134
3Real Madrid1594230111931
4Atletico MadridAtletico148602371630
5Sevilla159151919028
6Villarreal146352218421
7Getafe155552015520
8Leganes156271214-220
9Real Sociedad155462828019
10Celta Vigo155372723418
11EibarEibar155371627-1118
12Real Betis145362328-518
13GironaGirona144551822-417
14Levante143741420-616
15Espanyol144461118-716
16Deportivo La CorunaDeportivo154381827-915
17Athletic Bilbao143561418-414
18AlavesAlaves1540111224-1212
19Malaga1532101328-1511
20Las PalmasLas Palmas1531111134-2310
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