Barcelona are without four first-teamers for their visit of Atletico Madrid, who begin life without Yannick Carrasco.
Barca’s official website reports Nelson Semedo is out through injury, while Denis Suarez, Aleix Vidal and Yerry Mina are omitted on tactical grounds.
Atleti, on the other hand, can no longer call on Carrasco and Nicolas Gaitan, both of whom joined Chinese side Dalian Yifang earlier in the week.
Axel Werner has also been promoted to Jan Oblak’s backup in goal after Miguel Angel Moya was sold to Real Sociedad.
Ernesto Valverde has never beaten Atleti in his managerial career, although Barca have not lost to Cholo’s men in the League since February 2010.
Barca squad: Ter Stegen, Cillessen; Pique, Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta, Suarez, Messi, Dembele, Coutinho, Paulinho, Alcacer, Alba, Digne, Sergi Roberto, Gomes, Umtiti, Vermaelen
Atleti squad: Oblak, Werner; Godin, Filipe Luis, Vrsaljko, Lucas, Juanfran, Gimenez, Thomas, Koke, Saul, Gabi, Vitolo, Olabe, Griezmann, Fernando Torres, Correa, Costa, Gameiro
