Clasico countdown: Confirmed Barcelona vs Real Madrid lineups with Asensio axed

With Lionel Messi sidelined through injury, Ernesto Valverde has rewarded Rafinha with a rare league start for the visit of Real Madrid.

The Brazilian has featured for just 59 minutes for Barcelona in LaLiga all season but keeps his place in the front three - along with compatriot Philippe Coutinho and Luis Suarez - having scored in the midweek win over Inter Milan.

Elsewhere fellow Brazilian and summer signing Arthur starts for the fifth consecutive time for the blaugrana, preferred over Ousmane Dembele in a move that allows Coutinho to line-up further forward.

In the continued absence of Samuel Umtiti, Clement Lenglet keeps his place at the back alongside Gerard Pique and is sure to be the subject of some pressure from the away side after an unconvincing start to life at Camp Nou.

For the visitors Nacho continues at right-back in the absence of the injured Dani Carvajal, while summer signing Vinicius Junior is suspended having been sent off for Madrid’s Castilla side.

Julen Lopetegui’s main selection dilemma sees Isco favoured over Marco Asensio once more after abject starts from both in club colours, despite both having worked closely and successfully under the new coach in the national set up.

The former has just one goal and one assist to his name so far this season in the league, which is also true of Asensio, who has started twice as many times as his fellow Spain international.

Real Madrid’s win ratio has jumped from 60 per cent in the matches Asensio has not started since he arrived in 2016 to 71 per cent in 38 league matches that he has, but only time will tell if Lopetegui has made the right call today…