Ernesto Valverde spoke to the media and stated that he will not count on Paulinho and that he would monitor Pique's development, the defender still doubtful for the fixture. In the end, the centre-back is included in the 18-man list to face Real Betis.
Luis Suarez, Iniesta and Rafinha are out due to injury, while Valverde has decided not to include Paulinho, Marlon, Munir, Samper, Douglas and Vermaelen. The crowd at the Camp Nou will have to wait to see new signing Paulinho in a Barcelona shirt.
Valverde's first list of players for La Liga fixture against Real Betis:
Ter Stegen, Cillessen, Semedo, Piqué, Rakitic, Sergio, Denis Suárez, Arda, Messi, Mascherano, Deulofeu, Paco Alcácer, Jordi Alba, Digne, Sergi Roberto, André Gomes, Aleix Vidal and Umtiti.
[CONVOCATORIA] Consulta la lista de Valverde para el #FCBBetis https://t.co/CboOO1U7pN
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es) 19 August 2017