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Attendance: 52,356
Barcelona logo
La Liga | Gameweek 1
Aug 18, 2018 at 9.15pm UK
 
Alaves logo

3-0

Messi (64', 90'), Coutinho (83')
FT(HT: 0-0)

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 backline 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

Follow all the action from Camp Nou with Sports Mole's live match commentary.

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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 header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona26183571254657
2Real Madrid27176457263157
3Atletico MadridAtletico27168344182656
4Athletic Bilbao271310445242149
5Villarreal26128648361244
6Real BetisBetis2711883533241
7Mallorca27107102633-737
8Rayo Vallecano279992929036
9Celta Vigo27106114041-136
10Sevilla279993236-436
11Real Sociedad27104132328-534
12Getafe2789102322133
13Osasuna2671273237-533
14GironaGirona2695123439-532
15Espanyol2576122436-1227
16Valencia2769123045-1527
17Leganes2769122440-1627
18AlavesAlaves2768133040-1026
19Las PalmasLas Palmas2766153045-1524
20Real ValladolidValladolid2744191862-4416


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