La Liga line ups: Barcelona v Espanyol

Gerard Pique starts for Barcelona in their Catalonian derby with Espanyol, with the defender already playing mind games with the Nou Camp visitors this weekend.

Manager Ernesto Valverde makes two changes from the side that beat Real Betis 4-1 before the international break, with Nelson Semedo and Philippe Coutinho in for Sergi Roberto and Arturo Vidal.

Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez have both overcome injuries to start for the hosts. 

Espanyol boss Rubi recalls Lluis Lopez and Adria Pedrosa to a five man defence, with Melendo Jimenez and Victor Sanchez in midfield – with Didac Vila, the suspended Sergi Darder, Wu Lei and Hernan Perez all dropping out of the starting XI.

BARCELONA: Ter Stegen, Semedo, Pique, Lenglet, Alba, Busquets, Rakitic, Arthur, Coutinho, Messi, Suarez

SUBS: Pena, Umtiti, Roberto, Alena, Malcom, Vidal, Boateng

ESPANYOL: D.Lopez, Rosales, Naldo, L.Lopez, Hermoso, Pedrosa, Sanchez, Granero, Roca, Jimenez, Igelsias

SUBS: Roberto, Semedo, Garcia, Vila, Rios, Gullon, Lei

La Liga - Club News