Lionel Messi and Neymar are both only good enough to make the bench for Barcelona’s encounter with Real Sociedad tonight.
The South American pair, along with Dani Alves, were granted extra time off over Christmas, meaning they have trained less with the rest of the team.
Consequently, Martin Montoya and Munir El Haddadi have been given starting berths in the aforementioned trio’s absence, with Jeremy Mathieu and Xavi also coming in.
La Real, meanwhile, welcome back top goalscorer Carlos Vela into their starting line-up after he had missed their last two matches of 2014 through injury.
Real Sociedad: Rulli; C Martinez, Ansotegi, Inigo, De la Bella; Bergara, Granero; Prieto, Canales, Castro; Vela
Subs: Zubikarai, A Elustondo, Yuri, Gaztanaga, Hervias, Pardo, Finnbogason
Barcelona: Bravo; Montoya, Mascherano, Mathieu, Alba; Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta; Munir, Suarez, Pedro
Subs: Ter Stegen, Alves, Pique, Rafinha, Rakitic, Neymar, Messi
Referee: Carlos Del Cerro
