FCBARCELONA.CAT

06.03.2010 23:23

Unbeaten after breaks

Anna Segura

One win and two draws is Barça’s record in games that have immediately followed international breaks.

Eleven Barça players were away on international duty this week, so Josep Guardiola did not have his full squad with him until Friday, when Rafa Márquez was back, just a day before the match with Almeria. This situation has had happened three times before, and Barça have always managed to avoid defeat.

Win against Getafe

The first break came after just one game, when Barça faced Getafe in September, A trip to the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez is always a tricky one, but goals from Ibrahimovic and Messi were enough to bring three points back to Barcelona.

October in Mestalla

The next break lasted 15 days due to World Cup qualifiers, and that was when Barça’s return to action involved a trip away to Mestalla, where the game with Valencia ended goalless.

Next Bilbao

There was another break in mid November, and following yet anointer mass exodus of the internationals, Barça had another away trip, this time to San Mamés, where they drew 1-1 thanks to a goal from Alves. This was the curtain raiser for a crucial week in which Barça faced Inter in the Champions League and then the classic with Real Madrid in the League.

Super Cup, first precedent

Barça’s training schedule was also hampered in the preseason, just before they were due to play for the Spanish Super Cup. Their destination on return was San Mamés, where they won 2-1 with goals from Pedro and Xavi.