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Soccer

BARCELONA - SEVILLA

Barcelona vs Sevilla team news: Messi returns and Iniesta starts for Barcelona

Luis Enrique has the luxury of recalling Lionel Messi to his starting eleven and Andres Iniesta starts after a poor run of injuries and lack of match sharpness
Real Madrid-Sevilla live: LaLiga

Robbie Dunne
Robbie Dunnerobbiejdunne
Messi, Suarez and neymar during training.
FERNANDO ZUERASDIARIO AS

There was a time when Sevilla were considered title challengers in LaLiga and a dark horse in the Champions League. A horrific run of form starting in March has seen them kicked out of the Champions League by Leicester and drop behind Atletico Madrid in LaLiga. Likewise, Barcelona were considered dead in the water in the Champions League and unlikely LaLiga winners but a miraculous comeback in the Champions League against PSG and a steady if not spectacular run in LaLiga sees them right back in the race on both European and domestic fronts.

They face each other tonight in the Camp Nou and both sides know they need a win for varying reasons. This type of game, one that is sure to be played at a furious pace, could not be coming at a worse time with heavy, hectic schedules for both sides. Here are the teams selected by both managers.

Andres Iniesta during Barcelona training.
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Andres Iniesta during Barcelona training.FERNANDO ZUERASDIARIO AS

Barcelona

Luis Enrique welcomes Gerard Pique into his starting eleven and also Andres Iniesta, who had not been starting regularly. It looks like Barcelona will play in a 3-4-3, a formation Luis Enrique has taken a liking to recently in the absence of Aleix Vidal. Sergi Roberto will likely join the midfield at times with Messi also dropping into the slightly deeper number ten role and adding support to his front two also.

Barcelona XI: Ter Stegen, S. Roberto, Mascherano, Piqué, Umtiti, Rakitic, Sergio, Iniesta, Suárez, Messi, Neymar

Nasri, N'zonzi and Montoya during Sevilla training.
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Nasri, N'zonzi and Montoya during Sevilla training.Antonio PizarroDIARIO AS

Sevilla

Sevilla make three changes from the team that drew, quit tamely, with Sporting Gijon at the wekeend. Escudero, who has been somewhat of a revelation this season, returns to the team in place of Pablo Sarabia while vicente Iborra joins N'Zonzi in midfield in place of Matias Kranevitter. Mercado will play at the back to in what appears to be a 3-5-2 and will be partnered with Pareja and Lenglet. Mariano and the incoming Escudero will be the wingbacks. Correa will be the lone front man with Nasri as support.

Sevilla XI: Sergio Rico, Mariano, Mercado, Lenglet, Pareja, N'Zonzi, Escudero, Nasri, Iborra, Vitolo, Correa.