FCBARCELONA.CAT

22.08.2007 12:12

A test under the rain

Sergi Nogueras / Jordi Clos

The players that have not been called up for international duty got the chance to play a match in the Miniestadi against a B team that also had numerous players missing.

It was a fast pitch after the rain, which returned in the second half of a game played 30 minutes each way. Giovani Dos Santos scored the only goal.

Try out time

The first team played with Jorquera, Belletti, Olmo, Oleguer (Valiente), Sylvinho, Motta, Crosas, Márquez, Jonathan, Giovani and Ezquerro. The reserves lined up with Oier (Pau), Xavi Torres, Fali, Valiente (Botía), Espasandín, Dimas, Toribio, Víctor Vázquez, Eneko, Guerra and Matamala.

Rijkaard used Márquez as a defensive midfielder alongside Jonathan, the player from the Premià youth team who is on trial for Barça B.

Giovani on song again

Giovani Dos Santos, Barça’s top scorer during the pre-season, opened the scoring in the early seconds of the game by latching onto an Ezquerro header. It was a well-matched first half, and the reserves created their chances too. But most of the action came in the rain-sodden second half. Giovani, Sylvinho and Motta all had two chances each to beat keeper Pau, who posted an excellent performance.

Valdés, Thuram and Gudjohnsen, separate

Víctor Valdés worked in La Masia with goalkeeping coach Juan Carlos Unzué. Thuram and Gudjohnsen stayed indoors to continue their respective treatment programmes. The French defender is due to resume normal training on Thursday.