LIVE stream: Barcelona vs Elche team sheets - 2014/15 La Liga on beIN Sports

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Barcelona will play their first match of the season when they face Elche at the Camp Nou on Sunday, the 24th of August in a La Liga encounter.

After a disappointing campaign which saw them ending the season trophy less, Barcelona will be looking for a fresh start this season. The Catalans have made wholesale changes to the squad which has seen a new manager taking over the hot seat, whereas a couple of first teamers have been sold and replaced by new ones.

One of these players is Ivan Rakitic who after guiding Sevilla to a successful season is set to don Barcelona colors this campaign. The Croatian has been likened to Spanish star Xavi who despite of being linked with a move away from the club has been named captain of the side following Puyol’s departure. Rakitic however was quick to dismiss any comparisons between himself and the Spanish maestro and also heaped praise on his new teammates Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.

“It's nice that people are saying that I am the successor of Xavi but I'm Rakitic. Replacements for such a great player like Xavi don't exist," he said.

"I can't wait to start the Primera [Liga]. We worked a lot [in per-season] and I hope that this will show on the field. Barcelona are powerful again.”

"I always wanted to join Barcelona. It was my desire."

"Messi is no different from the others. He is very helpful. He offered me his assistance in finding an apartment or house in Barcelona," Rakitic revealed.

"It's not necessary to say about the qualities of Luis Suarez. It is important that he is with us at every practice."

Among the new signings Thomas Vermaelen (hamstring) and Marc-Andre ter Stegen (back) will not be able to make their competitive debuts on Sunday but the likes of Ivan Rakitic, Claudio Bravo and Jeremy Mathieu are expected to feature.

There is also positive news as far as forwards Neymar and Pedro are concerned who are both in contention of making it into the squad for the match against Elche.

Elche on the other hand only just survived relegation last time out and will be hoping of making a better impression this time around. New signings Mario Pasalic and Przemyslaw Tyton are expected to make their competitive debuts for Los Franjiverdes.