Lionel Messi starts for Barcelona against Roma in the Champions League, joining Neymar and Luis Suarez as the trident is reunited.
Messi returned from a knee injury suffered in late September in Barca’s 4-0 win over Real Madrid on Saturday, playing the last 30 minutes of the rout.
He makes his first start since September 26 against the Italians, with Luis Enrique, a former Roma trainer, making a handful of other alterations from the side that beat Los Blancos.
Marc-Andre Ter Stegen is in goal, as is customary in the Champions League, behind a back four deprived of the injured Javier Mascherano. Thomas Vermaelen partners Gerard Pique, with Dani Alves and Jordi Alba on either side.
Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Busquets and Sergi Roberto make up the midfield three as Andres Iniesta drops out, Sergi keeping his place from the Clasico albeit in the centre of midfield and not the right wing.
And it’s the MSN in attack – Messi, Suarez and Neymar together for the first time in two months.
Roma name former Barca midfielder Seydou Keita in their XI, and former Barca youth team player Iago Falque also starts.
But Rudi Garcia’s side is hit by injury and Mohamed Salah, Gervinho, Francesco Totti and Kevin Strootman are all missing.
Daniele De Rossi meanwhile failed a late fitness test but Alessandro Florenzi, scorer of a Puskas Award-nominated goal from the first meeting of the sides this season, is included in an attacking role.
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Alves, Pique, Vermaelen, Alba; Busquets, Sergi Roberto, Rakitic; Messi, Suarez, Neymar
Subs: Bravo, Iniesta, Bartra, Munir, Adriano, Mathieu, Samper
Roma: Szczesny; Maicon, Manolas, Rudiger, Digne; Pjanic, Keita, Nainggolan; Florenzi, Dzeko, Iago Falque
Subs: De Sanctis, Castan, Torosidis, Vainqueur, De Rossi, Iturbe, Ucan
Referee: Cakir [TUR]
