Line-ups: Valencia-Barca

Thomas Vermaelen starts his first Liga match for almost two years in Barcelona's top-of-the-table clash with Valencia this evening.

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Vermaelen is drafted in from the wilderness as Gerard Pique is suspended and an injury rules out Javier Mascherano, with his last League start for Barca coming all the way back in January 2016.

Paulinho also plays at the tip of the Catalans' midfield diamond, while Lionel Messi is back alongside Luis Suarez after being rested against Juventus midweek.

Valencia, meanwhile, are without Jeison Murillo in defence but have a capable replacement in Ezequiel Garay and are full-strength elsewhere.

Los Che have won two of their last three trips to Camp Nou in La Liga, but they have not beaten Barca at home since a 3-2 victory in the 2007-08 Copa del Rey semi-finals.

Nonetheless, both sides are still unbeaten in the League and occupy its top two places, with tonight's visitors four points clear at the summit.

Valencia: Neto; Montoya, Garay, Gabriel, Gaya; Soler, Parejo, Kondogbia, Guedes; Rodrigo, Zaza

Subs: Nacho Vidal, Vezo, Domenech, Mina, Andreas, Gil, Lato

Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Semedo, Vermaelen, Umtiti, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta; Paulinho; Messi, Suarez

Subs: Aleix Vidal, Alcacer, Denis, Deulofeu, Digne, Costas, Cillessen

Referee: Iglesias Villanueva

La Liga - Club News