Another Barcelona chance as Denis Suarez swings a boot at the ball just outside the box but his volley is wide. Malaga are on the ropes here.

And now Gerard Pique causes more mayhem with a header but Javier Mascherano is offside as he tries (and fails) to turn it home.

It's all Barcelona now and Gerard Pique, on his return from injury, forces a save from the goalkeeper.

Sergi Roberto, now Barcelona's first-choice right-back, goes on a Dani Alves-style run and his cross causes havoc, but nobody can turn it home.

Neymar now has Barcelona's first shot of the game, but it's wide. Paco Alcacer picks him out with a pass over the top and the Brazilian hits the ball on he bounce into the side of the net.

Malaga have their first attack of the game, Barcelona have had most of the ball as you'd expect so far.

Sandro goes on a run from deep but he's either a lot quicker or a lot more ambitious than his team-mates and by the time he reaches the box there is no team-mate within 30 yards, so he has to shoot and it's into the side-netting.

Barcelona striker Paco Alcacer has the ball in the back of the net, but he was offside when he latched onto a pass over the top before firing home. 

The corner is headed clear.

We are under way. 

Barcelona will go top of La Liga if they win, although Real Madrid will have the chance to overtake them again at 19:45 GMT in the derby.

Malaga are 10th, within seven points of the Champions League places and six off the relegation zone.

Malaga striker Sandro returns to the club he left this summer.

Barcelona allowed the 21-year-old to leave at the end of his contract and he joined Malaga, where he has scored five goals in 11 games so far.

“I am coming back home," he said. "I am coming back to the Camp Nou. It will be a special game because I will see former colleagues who gave me everything when I got into the first team.

"We are in a good moment mentally to come away with three points from a difficult ground." 

Image source, EPA

Image source, Getty Images

Malaga boss Juande Ramos: “I have no doubts regarding the way to play, I have it practically decided. 

"Having fewer players available means you don’t have to play things over in your head as much.  

Those who will be in action are pumped up and ready to play a good game.  With regard to difficulties with the line-up and called-up players, I’ve had very few.

“If we see we’re secure and are controlling the game, pushing forward is a good option.  However, if we find they’re pushing us, we’ll have no choice but to retreat.  Barcelona push you so much into your field that you’re forced to retreat whether you like it or not."

This is the first time Barcelona have been without Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez in the same La Liga game, since Suarez's debut in 2014.

Can Paco Alcacer step up to the plate?

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique thinks Lionel Messi - who is out because of illness today - will sign a new contract and stay with the club.

A story in (Madrid) newspaper Marca claimed he would let his contract - which runs to 2018 - run down before making a decision.

"Perhaps it's best if the interested parties respond to this question, but I cannot imagine Messi away from this club," Enrique said.

"I imagine that Messi will stay at Barca for many more years. It would be nice if he could end his career here. 

"He’s the best player of all time. There’s so much difference between him and anyone else that it is almost ridiculous to question it.”

Image source, EPA

There has already been a game today in La Liga and it was a thriller. Sevilla came from 2-0 down at Deportivo La Coruna to win 3-2, with Gabriel Mercado scoring an injury-time winner.

The result takes them up to third, above Villarreal and Atletico Madrid. They are only three points off top now.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, AP

Some big Barcelona team news to bring you, Lionel Messi has been sick this morning and doesn't play. With Luis Suarez suspended, Neymar is the only one of their regular front line who starts. Summer signing Paco Alcacer, yet to score for the club, starts.

Up front for Malaga, who have several players out injured, is Sandro, who left Barca this summer.

Barcelona: Ter Stegen, Roberto, Pique, Mascherano, Digne, Busquets, Rafinha, Turan, D Suarez, Neymar, Alcacer. Subs: Cillessen, Rakitic, Alba, Gomes, Vidal, Alena, Marlon.

Malaga: Kameni, Rosales, M Torres, Villanueva, Ricca, Llorente, Pablo, Ontiveros, Juankar, Juanpi, Sandro. Subs: Boyko, Santos, Castro, Duda, Jony, En-Nesyri, Munoz.

Today could be a potentially huge day in the Spanish and German title races.

At 17:30 GMT, Borussia Dortmund play Bayern Munich in Der Klassiker - German football's big two of the past few years.

And at 19:45 GMT, Atletico host league leaders Real in the Madrid derby.

But first of all, Barcelona have the chance to go top (for a few hours anyway) when they host Malaga at 15:15 GMT.