FC Barcelona will travel to Almería with an 18-man squad that includes Rafael Márquez as they look to secure three more valuable points at the Estadio de los Juegos Mediterráneos on Saturday.
Coach Pep Guardiola has called up all of the first-team players that are fit for the 25th league
encounter of the season. Gerard Piqué is unavailable due to suspension while Seydou Keita and Éric
Abidal are still sidelined with their respective injuries.
The squad will travel to Almería on the day of the game with their flight due to leave
Barcelona at 10.30 and land in the Andalucian city 90 minutes later. The game kicks off at 8pm.
California dreaming
Friday’s training session was held behind closed doors at the
Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper complex. Márquez was present after he returned from playing for Mexico
in California against the United States. Despite the long journey he trained normally while Lionel
Messi and Thierry Henry enjoyed a light practice after their midweek exertions.
Tactics were the order of the day as the players focussed on the way that they would play
against Almería and how their opponents were likely to line up in various situations.
Back in action
Keita was welcomed back on to training pitch for the first time since he
suffered a knock and was able to run and test his strength and fitness. The Mali international
injured his hamstring in the game against Atlético de Madrid last month.