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Attendance: 52,356
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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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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CReal Madrid36296183226193
2Barcelona36247574433179
3GironaGirona36236775453075
4Atletico MadridAtletico36234967392873
5Athletic Bilbao361711858372162
6Real Sociedad361512949371257
7Real BetisBetis36141484843556
8Villarreal36149136060051
9Valencia36139143740-348
10Getafe361013134151-1043
11AlavesAlaves36119163445-1142
12Sevilla361011154750-341
13Osasuna36118174054-1441
14Las PalmasLas Palmas36108183246-1438
15Rayo Vallecano36814142944-1538
16Celta Vigo36910174254-1237
17Mallorca36715142941-1236
18CadizCadiz36614162549-2432
RGranada3649233770-3321
RAlmeria36211233572-3717


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