FCBARCELONA.CAT

07.04.2008 11:19

Getting ready for the Champions League

Berta Brau/Anna Segura

Today Monday the Barça players had a morning training session that focussed on the physical recovery of the starting XI against Getafe. The session at La Masia was also attended by six Barça B players.

With barely a break after the 0-0 draw with Getafe the first team has trained this Monday morning at La Masia behind closed doors to start getting ready for the return leg of their Champions League tie with Schalke 04. As usual after a game, the players in the starting line-up did a gentler warm-down session.

With 6 from the reserves

Six Barça B players - Oier Olazábal, Eneko, Busquets, Pedrito, Toribio and Fali – were invited to train with the first team. Deco, Ronaldinho, Jorquera and Oleguer didn’t appear but instead continued with their recovery programmes. Messi also came out onto the pitch half an hour after his team-mates.

Milito and Xavi, both in the starting line-up on Sunday, were also missing as they were doing specific exercises in the gym.

Starting XI head off earlier

After a warm-up together, the players split into two groups. One of them did close passing work while Puyol, Thuram, Valdés, Touré, Zambrotta, Henry, Bojan and Iniesta did tempo runs. Afterwards all except Thuram headed off for the dressing rooms. Sylvinho also left the pitch at La Masia, while Samuel Eto’o, who was substituted at half-time, completed the entire session.

Exercises and practice match

The remaining players continued with the training session with a series of passing and physical training circuits. Later on they split into two groups for a practice match. In orange bibs were Pinto, Giovani, Abidal, Ezquerro, Fali, Toribio and Edmílson while Oier, Thuram, Márquez, Gudjohnsen, Eto’o and Pedrito had no bibs. Sergio Busquets also played in the match.