Messi returns to Barca starting XI for Betis visit

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Barcelona host Real Betis on Sunday and Lionel Messi will make his comeback from a broken arm.

Lionel Messi is back in Barcelona's starting XI for the first time in three weeks following a lay-off with a broken arm, as Real Betis visit Camp Nou.

Messi fractured his arm after falling awkwardly following a collision with Sevilla's Franco Vazquez in the 4-2 win on October 20.

The injury has seen the Argentina star miss a total of five matches, though only one – the most recent, a 1-1 draw at Inter in the Champions League – did not end in a Barca win.

But they announced on Saturday that he was back and ready to feature against Betis, and Ernesto Valverde has immediately restored him to the line-up.

Gerard Pique and Clement Lenglet are at centre-back, while Jordi Alba starts after being recalled to the Spain squad this week.

Malcom keeps his place in attack, with Ousmane Dembele not present after being left out of the squad reportedly as a consequence of missing training without permission on Thursday.