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

Nahuel 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.

Ernesto Valverde pictured in 2016
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2Valencia1494133132031
3Atletico MadridAtletico148602371630
4Real Madrid1484225111428
5Sevilla149141914528
6Villarreal146352218421
7Leganes146261213-120
8Getafe145452015519
9Real Sociedad145452826219
10Celta Vigo145362621518
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12GironaGirona144551822-417
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14Levante143741420-616
15Espanyol144461118-716
16Athletic Bilbao143561418-414
17Deportivo La CorunaDeportivo143381727-1012
18Las PalmasLas Palmas1431101132-2110
19AlavesAlaves1430111024-149
20Malaga1422101128-178
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