FCBARCELONA.CAT

13.01.2008 11:31

Already preparing for the next game

Berta Brau / Anna Segura

Without any time to savour the victory over Real Murcia, the Barcelona squad were back in training on Sunday as preparations began ahead of the second leg of the team's Copa del Rey with Sevilla.

The Blaugrana players took to the pitch in front of La Masia with the starting side from the game on Saturday enjoying a more relaxed session than their teammates. Samuel Eto'o's absence was noted after he has already set off to team up with the Cameroon squad ahead of the African Cup of Nations later this month. Touré Yaya has already left and is has been with the Ivory Coast set-up for over a week.

Out of action

The other absentees from the session on Sunday were Éric Abidal, who has gastroenteritis, Rafa Márquez, who worked in the gym, and Santi Ezquerro. The forward has recovered from gastroenteritis, but pulled out of the squad for the game against Real Murcia and opted to also work in the gym instead of training on the pitch.

Lionel Messi was given a day to rest as he continues his recovery programme. The Argentinian player is coming back from a tear in his left thigh muscle and will return to work on Monday.

Ronaldinho returns

Ronaldinho took to the pitch with the rest of the players as he continues to overcome tendonitis in his left leg. The Brazilian worked away from the squad with the physical coaches and worked with Carles Puyol on a series of exercises before carrying different circuits and sprints with the ball.

Relaxing session

As usual, the team that began the game the day before had a more relaxed session, but the rest of the squad were put through a number of physical routines without the ball. The session ended with a practice game that included two small goals on a small pitch. The teams were made up of Andrés Iniesta, Giovani Dos Santos and Oleguer Presas on one side and Pedrito, Gaby Milito and Deco on the other.

Oier Olazábal spent the entire session working with goalkeeping coach, Juan Carlos Unzué.

Child’s play

Some of the players' children turned up at training on Sunday with Thierry Henry's daughter and Lilian Thuram's kids coming along to watch.