TEAM NEWS: Tello starts in attack for Barcelona's clash with Spartak Moscow

Sep 19, 2012 6:35:00 PM

The young left-footed attacker starts for the Catalan giants this evening, while Alexis Sanchez returns from injury to take his place on the substitutes bench

Tito Vilanova has handed Cristian Tello a starting berth upfront alongside Lionel Messi and Pedro for Barcelona's Champions League clash with Spartak Moscow at Camp Nou this evening.

Barca are without their talismanic captain Carles Puyol tonight, after the veteran defender picked up a knee injury during their 4-1 win over Getafe on Saturday while Andres Iniesta also misses out after damaging an adductor muscle in his right leg whilst on international duty with Spain last week.

Javier Mascherano replaces Puyol at the back, while the home side's midfield three consists of Xavi, Sergio Busquets and Cesc Fabregas. Alexis Sanchez, who has been struggling with a thigh injury, has passed a late fitness test and is named as a substitute.

Unai Emery has introduced Emmanuel Emenike to his starting line-up, after the striker came on as a substitute at the weekend and scored to help Spartak earn a 2-2 draw against Kuban.

The visitors line up in Emery's favoured 4-2-3-1 formation, but look slightly more defensive than usual, as the Brazilian defensive midfielder Rafael Carioca partners Kim Kallstrom in central midfield, while Romulo plays as one of the attacking three supporting Emenike.

Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdes; Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Adriano; Xavi, Busquets, Fabregas; Pedro, Messi, Tello

Subs: Pinto, Montoya, Bartra, Song, Thiago, Villa, Alexis

Spartak Moscow (4-2-3-1): Dykan; Kombarov, Insaurralde, Suchy, Kombarov; Rafael Carioca, Kallstrom; McGeady, Romulo, Ari; Emenike

Subs: Pesyakov, Bryzgalov, Makeev, Jurado, Bilyaletdinov, Dyzuba, Yakovlev

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