Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has kept forward Lionel Messi on the bench for their Primera Division encounter with Deportivo La Coruna at Camp Nou tonight.

Midfield maestro Xavi too has been left out of the starting line-up and so is defenders Daniel Alves and Maxwell.

Gerard Pique, Carles Puyol, Andres Iniests and David Villa all have been kept out of the squad together.

Left-back Eric Abidal, who has only just returned from surgery to remove a tumour, starts once again and so does Javier Mascherano in central defence.

Barcelona starting XI: Valdes; Bartra, Fontas, Mascherano, Abidal; Keita, Thiago, Dos Santos; Afellay, Jeffren, Bojan

Deportivo La Coruna XI: Aranzubia; M. Pablo, Lopo, Colotto, Laure; Aythami, Ruben Perez, Juan Rodriguez, Valeron; Adrian, Lassad