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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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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona13110240122833
2Real Madrid1283125111427
3Atletico MadridAtletico137511971226
4Villarreal127322319424
5Osasuna136341720-321
6Athletic Bilbao135531913620
7Real BetisBetis135531412220
8Real Sociedad135351110118
9Mallorca135351010018
10GironaGirona135351617-118
11Celta Vigo135262022-217
12Rayo Vallecano124441313016
13Sevilla134361218-615
14Leganes133551316-314
15AlavesAlaves134181422-813
16Las PalmasLas Palmas133371622-612
17Getafe13175811-310
18Espanyol123181122-1110
19Real ValladolidValladolid132381025-159
20Valencia11146817-97


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