Barcelona v Real Betis preview: Champions hit with injuries

Champions Barcelona open their La Liga defence at home to Real Betis on Saturday evening with coach Luis Enrique insisting everyone at the club is geared up to win a third straight title.

Barcelona won the La Liga title ahead of Real Madrid last term, Enrique's second in two years at the club, and their opening game against Betis will be shown live on Sky Sports 1 on Saturday from 5pm.

It is just one of over 300 live La Liga games being shown on Sky Sports for the 2016/17 season, with Real Madrid travelling to Real Sociedad on Sunday, live on Sky Sports 1 at 7.15pm.

Barcelona have been active in the summer transfer market, spending around 80m euros (£70m) to bring in four players in Samuel Umtiti, Denis Suarez, Lucas Digne and Andre Gomes.

"We are motivated to win the league title for a third year running as it is something that has rarely been achieved in the club's history," Enrique said.

"We have reinforced the squad brilliantly. On paper, I have the best squad in my three years here. All the new players have settled in well. They have quality and will have to compete for a place."

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On opponents Betis, Enrique added: "They have a good collective idea that the new manager [Gus Poyet] is planning, they have earned good results in pre-season and have made some good signings. I am sure that they will create problems that we will have to resolve."

Javier Mascherano has joined the queue to the Nou Camp treatment room with champions Barcelona hit by a spate of injuries before they begin the new season.

Enrique's side paid a high price for winning the Spanish Super Cup against Sevilla, with captain Andres Iniesta and defenders Jeremy Mathieu and Mascherano sustaining injuries over the two legs that will keep them out of Saturday's game.

Barcelona are also without star forward Neymar, who is at the Olympics, while goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen is still recovering from a minor knee injury.

Meanwhile, France international Samuel Umtiti is in line for his La Liga debut after impressing against Sevilla and will be paired with Gerard Pique.

This could be goalkeeper Claudio Bravo's last game for Barcelona as reports suggest he is close to joining Manchester City, and the Nou Camp is sure to give him a rousing send-off for his services over the past two seasons.

Gus Poyet's Betis have added several players in the summer, including Roma striker Antonio Sanabria, who was on loan at Sporting Gijon last season.

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