3 areas of concern for Barcelona ahead of the opening La Liga weekend

#2 Plan B needed in case Messi doesn't play/has a poor day

Suarez and Griezmann were imperious in Barcelona's final pre-season game, a 4-0 win over Napoli

Manager Ernesto Valverde has used his five pre-season games to tinker with his formations and the duties that players are entrusted with, and was clearly keen on developing a plan B in the absence of their talisman Messi.

He experimented with Frenkie de Jong as the defensive midfield screen ahead of his four defenders in a pre-season encounter with Arsenal, with Riqui Puig and Ivan Rakitic occupying the other central midfield positions.

Nelson Semedo is expected to retain his place at right-back ahead of Sergi Roberto, with Senagalese youngster Moussa Wague who impressed in pre-season being ruled out due to injury.

Oriol Busquets had gotten himself overran in the same position in Barcelona's 2-1 preseason loss to Chelsea, and Valverde is, naturally, unlikely to start anybody except his most trusted defenders in Barcelona's opening league encounter.

Lionel Messi is unlikely to start the game, having just started training on Tuesday

In a major positive for Valverde, the front three of Griezmann, Luis Suarez and Ousmanne Dembele impressed in the Catalans' final pre-season game against Napoli, with all of them getting on the scoresheet as the Italians were routed 4-0.

With Messi having began training on Tuesday, Valverde has not included him in the squad for this match, giving Barcelona's attack a chance to step up without the Argentine.

It will be challenging for Valverde to ensure that his players gel with the new personnel. Rakitic and Busquets will have to adapt their play to the energetic and adventurous Frenkie De Jong, who is known for his powerful lung-busting forward runs.