El Clasico team news: Lionel Messi does not start for Barcelona, Real Madrid select Karim Benzema

The Argentinian is named on the bench following his recovery from a knee ligament injury

Barcelona forwards Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez (Getty Images)

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi will start tonight’s El Clasico on the bench.

Luis Enrique has decided against risking the club’s record goalscorer as he continues his recovery from a knee ligament injury sustained in a match against Las Palmas in September.

The decision means that Messi will not start in a game against Real Madrid for the first time since 2007. He has played all 90 minutes in each of the 27 encounters since.

Sergi Roberto starts as part of Barcelona’s front three. Ivan Rakitic, another injury doubt in the build-up to the match, is also selected.

Madrid manager Rafael Benitez brings Karim Benzema and James Rodriguez back into his starting line-up, who replace Isco and Jese.

Line-ups

Real Madrid: Navas, Danilo, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo, James, Kroos, Modric, Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo

Substitutes: Casilla, Pepe, Carvajal, Casemiro, Isco, Kovacic, Jese

Barcelona: Bravo; Alves, Piqué, Mascherano, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta; S. Roberto, Suárez, Neymar

Substitutes: Ter Stegen, Vermaelen, Mathieu, Adriano, Munir, Messi, Sandro