Lionel Messi is on the bench for Barcelona against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League tonight, but Luis Suarez and Ansu Fati start at the Signal Iduna Park.
Messi only returned to training at the weekend following a calf injury and completed another session on Monday morning before travelling to Germany with the rest of his team-mates, but starts as a substitute after not featuring at all for the Catalans this season.
Coach Ernesto Valverde said in Monday’s pre-match press conference that he would decide about Messi’s involvement on the day of the game, but he did reveal that Suarez could start at the Signal Iduna Park.
Suarez returned to action from a calf injury of his own as a substitute against Valencia on Saturday, when he came off the bench to score twice in the 5-2 win at Camp Nou.
He replaced youngster Ansu Fati in that game and the 16-year-old also features from the outset against Dortmund. Also in attack, Antoine Griezmann will make his Champions League debut for Barca.
In midfield, Arthur impressed alongside Frenkie de Jong and Sergio Busquets on Saturday and Valverde keeps with faith in those three for his side’s Champions League opener.
Lineups
Borussia Dortmund: Burki, Hakimi, Akanji, Hummels, Guerreiro, Witsel, Delaney, Sancho, Reus, Hazard, Alcacer
Subs: Zagadou, Dahoud, Gotze, Brandt, Weigl, Bruun Larsen, Hupe
Barcelona: ter Stegen, Nelson Semedo, Pique, Lenglet, Jordi Alba, Arthur, Busquets, de Jong, Fati, Suarez, Griezmann
Subs: Rakitic, Todibo, Messi, Neto, Sergi Roberto, Vidal, Perez
Referee: Ovidiu Alin Hategan (Romania)
