Juve-Barca: Messi a sub!

Lionel Messi is only named a substitute for Barcelona's Champions League showdown with Juventus this evening.

RAC1 reports Messi has been benched on technical grounds, but a journalist close to Barca claims the No 10 did not stop touching the back of his thigh against Leganes over the weekend and has subsequently been spared as a precaution.

His place in the XI has been filled by Gerard Deulofeu, but the Catalans could line up in a 4-4-2 diamond, with the former Everton ace partnering Luis Suarez up top and Paulinho in the hole.

Juve, meanwhile, go with a new-look 3-4-2-1 formation as Paulo Dybala and Douglas Costa support Gonzalo Higuain, who has five goals in his last four appearances. 

Barca comprehensively beat the Italians 3-0 in their first group meeting and only need a point to qualify for the knockout stages as winners of Group D.

However, their last trip to the Allianz Stadium saw the Bianconeri win by the same scoreline in the quarter-finals of the previous campaign.

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Juventus: Buffon; Rugani, Barzagli, Benatia; Cuadrado, Pjanic, Khedira, Alex Sandro; Dybala, Douglas Costa; Higuain

Subs: Szczesny, De Sciglio, Asamoah, Marchisio, Matuidi, Bentancur, Mandzukic

Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Semedo, Pique, Umtiti, Digne; Rakitic, Busquets, Paulinho, Iniesta; Deulofeu, Suarez

Subs: Cillessen, Denis, Messi, Alcacer, Alba, Vidal, Vermaelen

Referee: Mazic (SRB)

Tags Juventus
La Liga - Club News