Lionel Messi looking to smash Cristiano Ronaldo goal record in Borussia Monchengladbach dead rubber

Lionel Messi will lead Barcelona's 18-man squad to face Borussia Monchengladbach on Tuesday night (6 December) after Luis Enrique confirmed the Argentine will feature in the starting line-up along with a supporting cast of fringe players. Neymar and Ivan Rakitic will miss the dead rubber due to suspension, while regular starters like Gerard Pique and Marc-Andre ter Stegen are rested ahead of the La Liga match with Osasuna. Jeremy Mathieu remains on the sidelines, while 21-year-old Marc Cardona is the surprise name on the list.

The La Liga giants have already secured the top spot in Group C ahead of Manchester City. The Bundesliga outfit will drop into the Europa League, while Brendan Rodgers' Celtic finish bottom.

But Barcelona will be on the hunt for all three points following three games without a win, having been held to draws in their Copa del Rey encounter with Hercules and league matches with Real Sociedad and Real Madrid.

Luis Enrique will rest some of his first-team options with an eye on the Osasuna game, but Messi will remain in the starting XI. The Argentine, who has scored nine goals so far in the Champions League this season, will break Cristiano Ronaldo's group stage record (11) if he scores a hat-trick against Monchengladbach.

Gerard Pique and Ter Stegen are the two biggest names rested. The centre-back has struggled with an ankle injury in recent weeks and on Monday failed to complete training with the rest of his teammates.

Samuel Umtiti and Jasper Cillesen may return to the line-up after the Frenchman already made his comeback from three weeks on the sidelines during the encounter with Hercules. He was also on the bench in El Clasico.

Neymar may cede his attack spot to Paco Alcacer in coming games, as the Brazil international is suspended for both the Champions League clash with Monchengladbach and the weekend trip to Osasuna.

Meanwhile, Andre Gomes, Denis Suarez and Rafinha Alcantara are expected to fight for a role in the middle of the park alongside Andres Iniesta to cover the absence of Rakitic, who will also miss the game after receiving his third yellow card of the competition during the 2-0 victory at Celtic.

Other fringe players like Lucas Digne and Aleix Vidal may also have an opportunity to prove their worth, while Luis Enrique has promoted 21-year-old Marc Cardona from the Barcelona second team to make the squad.

"Luis Enrique will be without the suspended duo of Rakitic and Neymar Jr as well as the injured Jérémy Mathieu. Moreover, he has decided to rest Ter Stegen and Gerard Piqué. The one surprise in the squad is Barça B's Marc Cardona who debuted with the first team against Hércules recently and could make his first European appearance if he gets on the pitch," Barcelona confirmed.