Lionel Messi has been ruled out of Barcelona's game against Malaga on Saturday due to a stomach ache that has him vomiting. The forward was part of Luis Enrique's squad for the 3:15pm UK time kick-off at Camp Nou, but his spot has been filled by team-mate Carles Alena. Barca were already going into this encounter without one component of their 'MSN' front line, as Luis Suarez was forced out of the squad due to suspension. 

As a result, the Camp Nou outfit are without the scorers of 16 of their 32 league goals this season. Paco Alcacer, who is yet to register this season in La Liga since joining from Valencia in the summer, has been handed the opportunity to start, though the focus will inevitably be on Neymar, who has only four goals to his name in the league. Gerard Pique returns from an ankle injury in time to replace the sidelined Samuel Umtiti in the centre of defence, and Rafinha replaces Ivan Rakitic - named on the bench after sitting out Croatia's 3-0 victory over Northern Ireland in midweek - in midfield. Luis Enrique's side have a chance to go top of LaLiga this weekend, with leaders Real Madrid, whom they trail by two points, taking on Atletico Madrid in Saturday's late kick off.