Yeray Alvarez starts for Athletic Bilbao this afternoon against Barcelona, less than two months after he was diagnosed with testicular cancer.
Alvarez returns to the heart of Athletic’s defence alongside Aymeric Laporte as Aritz Aduriz is benched in Los Leones’ other big change.
Barca, meanwhile, name a second-string XI that sees Aleix Vidal come in at right-back and Jeremy Mathieu move to the left.
Arda Turan, Andre Gomes and Rafinha form a new-look midfield, supporting an attacking trident that is spearheaded by Paco Alcacer.
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Vidal, Pique, Umtiti, Mathieu; Arda, Gomes, Rafinha; Messi, Alcacer, Neymar
Subs: Cillessen, Rakitic, Denis, Suarez, Mascherano, Alba, Sergi
Athletic Bilbao: Iraizoz; Lekue, Yeray, Laporte, Balenziaga; San Jose, Iturraspe; De Marcos, Garcia, Muniain; Williams
Subs: Boveda, Eraso, Benat, Susaeta, Aduriz, Saborit, Remiro
Referee: Gonzalez Gonzalez
