In the end it was academic as Barcelona wound up on the end of an embarrassing home defeat against Deportivo Alaves, but their bench last night was fucking ridiculous.
Sandwiched between international duty and the start of their Champions League campaign, Luis Enrique viewed the visit of La Liga new boys as an opportunity to rest some of his star men.
After suffering an injury scare playing for Argentina, Lionel Messi started the game on the Dame Judy alongside Luis Suarez and Andres Iniesta - amongst others.
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Also consigned to watching on from the dugout were Rafinha, Jordi Alba and €25 million summer signing Samuel Umtiti. However, it did them little use as Messi and Suarez were thrown on in in vein in an attempt to salvage a shock reverse.
Even despite those names not in the starting XI, Barca's side was rammed with talent including the returning Neymar and €30 million debutant Paco Alcacer.
Well played, Deportivo Alaves
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