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Barcelona XI vs Real Madrid: El Clasico team news and lineup - Messi, Pedri, Fati start; no Griezmann

REUTERS
REUTERS

Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman has full-back Jordi Alba back for today's El Clasico meeting with Real Madrid.

Alba missed last weekend’s defeat at Getafe with a hamstring problem but returned to training on Thursday and starts, with summer signing Sergino Dest also involved.

Sergio Busquets was rested for the midweek Champions League win over Ferencvaros and returns at the expense of Miralem Pjanic.

Antoine Griezmann has struggled to find form under Koeman, and the coach has gone with Lionel Messi, Ansu Fati and Pedri instead.

(AFP via Getty Images)
(AFP via Getty Images)

No1 goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen remains out after undergoing surgery on a tendon problem in August, while Samuel Umtiti is also missing because of a persistent knee problem.

The Catalan side are ninth in LaLiga, three points adrift of their third-placed rivals, but with a game in hand.

Barcelona XI: Neto, Dest, Lenglet, Pique, Jordi Alba, De Jong, Busquets, Coutinho, Messi, Pedri, Ansu Fati

Real Madrid XI: Courtois, Nacho, Ramos, Varane, Mendy, Casemiro, Kroos, Valverde, Vinicius, Asensio, Benzema

Subs: Lunin, Luis Lopez, Militao, Modric, Marcelo, Lucas, Jovic, Isco, Rodrygo

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