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Mar 18, 2018 at 3.15pm UK
 
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2-0

Alcacer (8'), Messi (30')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Team News: Paco Alcacer handed rare league start for visit of Athletic Bilbao

:Headline: Team News: Paco Alcacer handed rare league start for visit of Athletic Bilbao: ID:321213: from db_amp
Paco Alcacer takes over from the suspended Luis Suarez for Barcelona's home league match against Athletic Bilbao.

Paco Alcacer has been handed a rare La Liga start in the absence of Luis Suarez for Barcelona's home match against Athletic Bilbao this afternoon.

The 24-year-old fills the void left by the suspended Suarez, who picked up his sixth yellow card of the season in the 2-0 win over Malaga last weekend.

Alcacer is used from the off for just the seventh time in the league this term, and for the first time in more than a month, as he joins Lionel Messi and Ousmane Dembele in the forward line.

There is also a place in the matchday squad for Carles Alena after being promoted from the B side for this contest, joining the likes of Andres Iniesta and Andre Gomes on the bench.

Elsewhere, Philippe Coutinho returns to the starting lineup having been cup-tied for the midweek win over Chelsea in the Champions League, taking a place in midfield alongside Ivan Rakitic and Paulinho.

In terms of the visitors, who trail Barcelona by 37 points, they are without forward Iker Muniain, midfielder Mikel Rico and defender Yeray Alvarez due to injury.

Sabin Merino will lead the attack for Athletic in Catalonia, seeking a first goal in his 13th outing of the campaign - nine of those being from the bench.

Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto, Pique, Umtiti, Alba; Rakitic, Paulinho, Coutinho; Dembele, Alcacer, Messi
Subs: Cillessen, Iniesta, Digne, Andre Gomes, Aleix Vidal, Yerry Mina, Alena

Athletic Bilbao: Arrizabalaga; Lekue, Nunez, Martinez, Saborit; Benat, San Jose, De Marcos, Garcia, Susaeta; Merino
Subs: Iago Herrerin, Iturraspe, Williams, Etxeita, Aduriz, Vesga, Cordoba

Follow all of the action as it unfolds at Camp Nou with Sports Mole's live text coverage right here.

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1Real Madrid29226164204472
2Barcelona29197360342664
3GironaGirona29195559342562
4Athletic Bilbao29168550262456
5Atletico MadridAtletico29174854342055
6Real Sociedad291210742311146
7Real BetisBetis29101273433142
8Valencia28117103232040
9Villarreal29108114751-438
10Getafe2991193742-538
11Las PalmasLas Palmas29107122932-337
12Osasuna29106133343-1036
13AlavesAlaves2988132635-932
14Mallorca29612112535-1030
15Rayo Vallecano29611122538-1329
16Sevilla29610133644-828
17Celta Vigo2969143244-1227
18CadizCadiz29313132040-2022
19Granada2828183058-2814
20Almeria29110182857-2913
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