MARTINO NAMED PAIR AS SUBSTITUTES AGAINST ATLETICO - A bench too far for Messi and Neymar

Posted Sunday, January 12, 2014 by Marca.com

Barça's two superstars both started on the bench for the clash against Atlético at the Calderón. Neither Messi, who scored twice on his comeback against Getafe in the cup on Wednesday, nor Neymar - who missed that match with gastroenteritis - was named in the starting line-up. The pair were subsequently introduced after the break in place of Iniesta and Alexis respectively, but were unable to find a breakthrough.

Barça coach Tata Martino opted to stick with the frontline that started the Getafe game, with Alexis Sánchez, Pedro and Cesc Fàbregas in tandem.

After MARCA.com broke the news that Messi would be a substitute on Friday afternoon, Martino himself corroborated this during his press conference. Neymar's absence was equally predictable: the Brazilian hasn't started a game for close to a month and his stomach trouble this week left the Argentine coach with little option but to handle him with care.

Tata's other decisions included fielding Alves at right-back and slotting in Mascherano alongside Piqué at the heart of defence. There were no surprises in midfield, with Busquets, Xavi and Iniesta given the nod. Puyol, Montoya and Tello were all omitted from the matchday squad, as was Afellay, who travelled with the party but has yet to be given the medical all-clear.

As for Atlético, Simeone named a full-strength starting XI, with Courtois in goal; Juanfran, Miranda, Godín and Filipe Luis at the back; Turan, Gabi, Tiago and Koke in the middle, and Diego Costa and Villa up front.