Claudio Bravo starts what is likely to be his last game in a Barcelona shirt as the Catalans get their La Liga campaign under way against Real Betis.
Mundo Deportivo reported just hours before kick-off that Barca had agreed a €13m deal to sign Ajax’s Jasper Cillessen, thus opening the door for Bravo to complete his move to Manchester City.
However, he is forced to play against Betis due to Marc-Andre ter Stegen still nursing a knee sprain.
Elsewhere for the champions, Samuel Umtiti and Denis Suarez are given their League debuts in place of the injured Javier Mascherano and Andres Iniesta.
Betis, on the other hand, officially begin life under former Brighton and Sunderand boss Gus Poyet, and the Uruguayan opts for a 3-5-2 formation that includes debuts for new boys Aissa Mandi, Jonas Martin, Felipe Gutierrez, Riza Durmisi and ex-Sporting Gijon ace Antonio Sanabria.
Barcelona: Bravo; Sergi, Pique, Umtiti, Alba; Busquets, Rakitic, Denis; Messi, Suarez, Arda
Subs: Masip, Douglas, Digne, Vidal, Kaptoum, Samper, Munir
Real Betis: Adan; Bruno, Mandi, Pezzella; Cejudo, Jonas, Petros, Felipe, Durmisi; Sanabria, Castro
Subs: Gimenez, Jose Carlos, Ceballos, Joaquin, Musonda, Fabian, Alegria
Referee: Undiano Mallenco
