Football
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Luis Suarez set to play for Barcelona B to improve his match fitness

Suspended Barcelona attacker Luis Suarez is to get a chance to build up his match fitness in Barcelona B's friendly against an Indonesian national selection on Wednesday.

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The Uruguay international is currently serving a four-month ban imposed by FIFA for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini on the shoulder at the summer's World Cup, although a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling means he is free to play in non-competitive games during that time.

Suarez's only appearance for his new club so far -- having joined from Liverpool in the summer for 80 million euros -- came in a late cameo appearance during the preseason Gamper Trophy friendly against Club Leon. He remains banned from competitive football until Oct. 25 -- when Barca face Real Madrid in the season's first La Liga clasico.

Blaugrana coach Luis Enrique told his news conference ahead of the first team's La Liga game at Malaga on Wednesday that the Barcelona B fixture at the club's training ground offers Suarez a chance to get some much-needed game time under his belt.

"For Luis Suarez to play a game is beneficial, even if with Barca B it will be with a different team," Enrique said. "The player wants to play, and to pick up match fitness, and he will play tomorrow."

Enrique said his own senior side will have Ivan Rakitic and Neymar available for the game at La Rosaleda as both have overcome minor knocks, while he denied the Brazil international's disappointing reaction to being substituted in Sunday's 5-0 win at Levante was a big deal.

"[Rakitic and Neymar] both trained today," he said. "Tomorrow they will get the all-clear and will be available. They all want to play, but that is impossible. Neymar's reaction was normal, there is no issue. Some people can get angry, but I do not worry about that. I just think about what is important for the group."

The Barca boss said he was also not concerned about Gerard Pique reacting negatively to his current role as back-up to first-choice centre-backs Javier Mascherano and Jeremy Mathieu.

"I see Pique with a marvellous attitude, optimistic, enjoying himself, working," he said. "I have good chemistry with him. His hip problems are behind him now."

There was also support for Lionel Messi to keep taking penalties, despite the Argentina captain missing the 12th spot kick of his career against Levante.

"Leo will keep taking the penalties, the other players are happy with that," he said "We have full confidence in him in this sense. If another player feels confident then maybe he can take one, but if there is one on Wednesday Messi will take it and score it."

Messi missed his country's most recent friendly in Germany with a minor muscle injury, leading some to question whether he was taking international football less seriously at present.

However, he has been named in the Albiceleste squad to face Brazil in Beijing on Oct. 11 and Hong Kong three days later -- something Enrique said had been Messi's own personal decision.

"I do not have to speak with any player about this," he said. "It is something personal between him and his national team. They are grown-ups, it is their decision. The club comes first, but the national team is something attractive. The players must decide what is best for them -- that is what they look for."

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