Barcelona boss Luis Enrique has commented on his decision to deploy Jeremy Mathieu at left-back for Saturday's El Clasico.

The Frenchman, who joined Barca from Valencia this summer, started the 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid at left-back despite mainly being deployed in the centre of the defence this season.

Mathieu claimed that he was "surprised" to start on the left of the defence, but Enrique has seen no problem with the decision.

"I could understand surprise if we'd played him as a winger, but at Valencia he also played as a full-back. If he's surprised we played him as a full-back, forget it and let's move on," Inside Spanish Football quotes Enrique as saying.

Prior to Saturday's match, Barcelona had not conceded in the league this season.