Barcelona go 3-4-3 for this afternoon’s visit of Deportivo La Coruna in La Liga as Lionel Messi and Samuel Umtiti are only substitutes.
Injuries to first-choice full-backs Jordi Alba and Sergi Roberto during the international break and Aleix Vidal’s exile sees Luis Enrique opt for a third centre-back in Javier Mascherano and Lucas Digne at left midfield but no Umtiti, despite the latter’s return from a knee injury.
The tactical change also has ramifications for Andres Iniesta, who is benched for a second straight game, and Arda Turan, the Turk moving to the right of midfielder in order to accommodate Ivan Rakitic in the middle.
Up top, the trident of Rafinha, Luis Suarez and Neymar is kept on as no chances are taken over Messi, who is eased back in from a groin strain.
Both of Barca’s meetings with Depor at Camp Nou under Enrique to date have ended 2-2.
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Pique, Mascherano, Mathieu; Arda, Rakitic, Busquets, Digne; Rafinha, Suarez, Neymar
Subs: Denis, Iniesta, Messi, Alcacer, Gomes, Umtiti, Masip
Deportivo La Coruna: Lux, Laure, Albentosa, Sidnei, Navarro; Mosquera, Borges; Guilherme, Gama, Colak; Andone
Subs: Bergantinos, Moreno, Tyton, Arribas, Luisinho, Valle, Babel
Referee: Sanchez Martinez
