FCBARCELONA.CAT

06.08.2008 10:08

Almost like home

Sergi Nogueras

FC Barcelona has held its last training session of its US tour at Giants Stadium, where the game is to be played and which is quite similar to the Camp Nou in its structure.

by Giants Stadium is pretty similar to the one in the Camp Nou. The shape of the stands, the blue and scarlet colours of the seats and even the location of the press box meant that the Barça players did their training in an atmosphere that recalled home. The main difference is that the more than 98,000 seats in the Camp Nou have been exchanged for 79,000 at Giants Stadium. This was the last session before the game and returning to Barcelona at the end of the 2008 tour.

Stadium soon to disappear

Unlike 2006, this time round Barça have been able to train at Giants Stadium. Two years ago an electrical storm meant the team was not allowed out onto the pitch and had to train in the gym. This has also been the last session for the Barça players at the stadium as it is to be knocked down at the end of 2009. From then on the New York Red Bulls will play at their new ground called the Red Bull Stadium in Harrison with a capacity of 25,000 fans.

Gudjohnsen goal

After training in Central Park and a morning off for the players, this Tuesday’s session combined physical and skills work. The only player missing was Sylvinho, who stayed in the hotel with a slight temperature, and the session was rounded off by a game on half the pitch in which Gudjohnsen scored a great goal.