FCBARCELONA.CAT

08.02.2008 13:09

Three reserve players, and Deco out

www.fcbarcelona.cat

Frank Rijkaard has picked 18 players for the Sevilla match on Saturday night. Deco is left out, and in come three Barça B players due to the absence of many key faces.

Deco has returned from international duty with ankle trouble and despite rushed attempts to get the player fit in time, the results have not been as hoped for and it has been decided that it would be better if he sits out the crunch league fixture. Sylvinho is also missing due to bother with the femoral biceps in his right leg.

Other injured players are Jorquera, Puyol, Ezquerro and Zambrotta, while Bojan is unavailable, as neither are Eto'o and Touré Yaya, who are still in Africa. This has obliged Frank Rijkaard to use his imagination in producing an 18 man squad.

Opportunity knocks

The Barça B players drafted in are Espasandín, Víctor Vázquez and Víctor Sánchez, and for the former two this could mark their debuts in the Barcelona first team.

Training in Miniestadi

The training session in the Miniestadi was held behind closed doors. Training before matches is usually held in the Camp Nou, but following the rain during the match with Osasuna the turf is undergoing special treatment, the groundsmen also taking advantage the fact that no games will be played in the stadium until Barça entertain Levante on February 24.