Andres Iniesta fails to make the Barcelona XI for this afternoon's Clasico against Real Madrid, who line up as expected.

Barca go with Marc-Andre ter Stegen in goal, Jordi Alba and Sergi Roberto as full-backs plus Gerard Pique and Javier Mascherano – not Samuel Umtiti – in the heart of their defence.

Iniesta is not risked, having just returned from a five-week layoff, so Andre Gomes continues in central midfield, alongside Ivan Rakitic and pivot Sergio Busquets.

Up top, the famous MSN trident of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar are in position.

Madrid, meanwhile, stick with Keylor Navas between the sticks and opt for Raphael Varane over Pepe in an otherwise first-choice backline.

Mateo Kovacic and Luka Modric continue to hold the midfield in a double pivot as Isco is preferred to James Rodriguez as Los Blancos' No 10.

Finally, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lucas Vazquez flank lone striker Karim Benzema in Gareth Bale's injury-induced absence.

Follow Barca-Madrid LIVE with Football Espana’s Clasico blog from 14:15 GMT/UTC!

Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Sergi, Pique, Mascherano, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Gomes; Messi, Suarez, Neymar

Subs: Cillessen, Denis, Arda, Iniesta, Alcacer, Digne, Umtiti

Real Madrid: Navas; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Modric, Kovacic; Vazquez, Isco, Ronaldo; Benzema

Subs: Casilla, Pepe, Nacho, James, Casemiro, Mariano, Asensio

Referee: Clos Gomez

Tags El Clasico
La Liga - Club News