Thursday, September 14
 

Team News: Ousmane Dembele starts on Barcelona bench

Barcelona's record signing Ousmane Dembele starts on the bench for the visit of Espanyol in the Catalan derby.

Barcelona's record signing Ousmane Dembele has been named on the bench for the visit of Espanyol in the Catalan derby this evening.

The 20-year-old moved to Camp Nou in a £135.5m deal from Borussia Dortmund last month but is made to wait for his debut this evening as Ernesto Valverde continues with Gerard Deulofeu up front.

Luis Suarez comes back into the fold after recovering from a knee injury, with Aleix Vidal making way, as the Uruguayan joins Deulofeu and Lionel Messi in the front line.

Andres Iniesta starts despite speculation that he could be rested in favour of Paulinho, while Ivan Rakitic overcomes a muscular problem to keep his place in the midfield alongside Iniesta and Sergio Busquets.

Valverde makes only one other change following the 2-0 victory at Alaves before the international break, bringing in Nelson Semedo at right-back as Sergi Roberto misses out.

Gerard Pique and Samuel Umtiti continue to marshal the heart of the defence, Jordi Alba stays put at left-back and Marc-Andre ter Stegen is in goal.

As for the visitors, former Watford manager Quique Flores makes four changes following the loss to minnows Leganes last time out.

Gerard and Leo Baptistao start up front, while veteran forward Sergio Garcia starts the game on the bench.

Pablo Piatti and Javi Fuego keep their places in the midfield and are joined by Pape Diop and Sergi Darder, in for Jose Manuel Jurado and Marcos Gullon.

There are also two changes in the back four, with Mario Hermoso and a fit-again Victor Sanchez joining David Lopez and Aaron as Naldo drops to the bench and Pedro Rios misses out.

Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Semedo, Pique, Umtiti, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta; Suarez, Messi, Deulofeu
Subs: Cillessen, Dembele, Mascherano, Paulinho, Alcacer, Digne, Andre Gomes

Espanyol: Pau; Victor Sanchez, David Lopez, Hermoso, Aaron; Diop, Darder, Fuego, Piatti; Gerard, Baptistao
Subs: D Lopez, Navarro, Naldo, S Garcia, Jurado, Didac, M Roca

Keep up with every twist and turn of the action from Camp Nou this evening with Sports Mole's live text commentary here.

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La Liga Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona33009099
2Real Sociedad330010469
3Sevilla32105147
4Athletic Bilbao32103037
5Leganes32013216
6Atletico MadridAtletico31207345
7Real Madrid31206335
8Levante31204315
9Valencia31203215
10Getafe31112204
11GironaGirona311134-14
12Celta Vigo310245-13
13Villarreal310235-23
14Las PalmasLas Palmas310247-33
15Real Betis310236-33
16EibarEibar310214-33
17Deportivo La CorunaDeportivo301249-51
18Espanyol301217-61
19Malaga300315-40
20AlavesAlaves300304-40
Scroll for more - Tap for full version
La Liga Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona33009099
2Real Sociedad330010469
3Sevilla32105147
4Athletic Bilbao32103037
5Leganes32013216
6Atletico MadridAtletico31207345
7Real Madrid31206335
8Levante31204315
9Valencia31203215
10Getafe31112204
11GironaGirona311134-14
12Celta Vigo310245-13
13Villarreal310235-23
14Las PalmasLas Palmas310247-33
15Real Betis310236-33
16EibarEibar310214-33
17Deportivo La CorunaDeportivo301249-51
18Espanyol301217-61
19Malaga300315-40
20AlavesAlaves300304-40
Scroll for more - Tap for full version

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