FCBARCELONA.CAT

30.10.2008 13:25

Good news and bad news

Edgar Fornós

Following a day off, the FC Barcelona first team squad returned to training on Thursday morning for a session that saw Éric Abidal limp out of the action early on with an injury to his right knee.

The Blaugrana are now preparing for their next league game against Málaga on Saturday in La Romareda, but there was some bad news during the session in the Miniestadi. Abidal pulled up and had to leave training early after feeling some pain in his knee. The French defender will undergo a series of tests to determine the extent of the problem before the club’s medical services make an announcement.

Physical fitness

After the usual warm-up exercises and ball games, coach Josep Guardiola opted to put the players through a physical circuit in which they had to go round a series of cones and jump over hurdles to start the session.

Keita trains again

Seydou Keita was out on the pitch in the Miniestadi for his first training session since suffering a muscle injury in the game against Athletic Club de Bilbao in San Mamés, but he worked to the side of the squad along with physical fitness coach Juanjo Brau.

Surprise test

UEFA carried a surprise anti-doping test on nine of the Barça first team as they took urine samples from Carles Puyol, Albert Jorquera, Sylvinho, José Manuel Pinto, Sergio Busquets, Touré Yaya, Gerard Piqué, Víctor Sánchez and Pedro as well as from two Barça Atlètic players, Oier Olazábal and David Córcoles.