MX23RW : Thursday, August 23 17:14:25
Aug 18, 2018 at 9.15pm UK at ​Camp Nou
Attendance: 52,356
Barcelona
3-0
AlavesAlaves
Messi (64', 90'), Coutinho (83')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Torres (10'), Maripan (41')

Team News: Lionel Messi captains Barcelona in La Liga opener against Alaves

Team News: Messi captains Barca in La Liga opener
© Reuters
Lionel Messi starts his first La Liga game as Barcelona captain as the Blaugrana's league season gets underway against Alaves at Camp Nou.

Lionel Messi is set to start his first La Liga game as permanent Barcelona captain in Saturday's league opener against Alaves at Camp Nou.

Ernesto Valverde has opted for a 4-3-3 with the Argentine part of an attacking trident alongside Luis Suarez and Ousmane Dembele.

Sergi Roberto, Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic make up the three-man midfield, while the back line is composed of Nelson Semedo, Gerard Pique, Samuel Umtiti and Jordi Alba.

New arrivals Clement Lenglet, Arturo Vidal and Malcom all have to make do with spots on the bench alongside January arrival Philippe Coutinho.

As for Alaves, Martin starts at right-back having been promoted from the club's B team, while there is a spot in attack for Jony, who joined the club on loan from Malaga this summer.

There is no John Guidetti tonight, meaning that former Real Madrid youngster Ruben Sobrino will lead the attack.

Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Semedo, Pique, Umtiti, Alba; Roberto, Busquets, Rakitic; Messi, Suarez, Dembele
Subs: Cillessen, Lenglet, Arthur, Rafinha, Vidal, Coutinho, Malcom

Alaves: Pacheco; Duarte, Maripan, Laguardia, Agirregabiria; Garcia; Wakaso, Torres, Jony, Gomez; Sobrino
Subs: Sivera, Ximo, Marin, Antonio, Burgui, Baston, Twumasi

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Barcelona forward Lionel Messi in action during the La Liga clash with Real Madrid on May 6, 2018
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sevilla11004133
2Barcelona11003033
3Levante11003033
4Real Madrid11002023
5Athletic Bilbao11002113
6Huesca11002113
7Real Sociedad11002113
8Atletico MadridAtletico10101101
9Celta Vigo10101101
10Espanyol10101101
11Valencia10101101
12GironaGirona10100001
13Real Valladolid10100001
14EibarEibar100112-10
15Leganes100112-10
16Villarreal100112-10
17Getafe100102-20
18Rayo Vallecano100114-30
19AlavesAlaves100103-30
20Real Betis100103-30

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