Valverde hands Barça top scorer Messi a rest against Alaves
Coutinho and Dembele were selected in attack with Suarez instead
Leo Messi rests in Vitoria. Ernesto Valverde made sevaral changes to his Barcelona side for the game against Alaves on Tuesday, with the Argentine among those left on the bench.
Ivan Rakitic didn't even travel, while Clement Lenglet, Arthur Melo and Jordi Alba have also been handed a break by the coach.
Into the team comes Samuel Umtiti and Carles Alena, who will take on one of the interior roles in midfield.
The full team is: Ter Stegem; Semedo, Pique, Umtiti, Sergi Roberto, Busquets, Vidal, Alena, Dembele, Suarez, Coutinho.
Messi may come on in the second half depending on the result, but Valverde will hope his front three of Dembele, Suarez and Coutinho can get the job done.
The absence of Leo will not benefit him in his fight for the European Golden Shoe, but it's clear that both Messi and Valverde would prefer to focus on keeping him fit as the Catalans fight for a treble.
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