10.08.2009 17:25
International week and Super Cup build-up
www.fcbarcelona.cat
Pep Guardiola will not be able to prepare for FC Barcelona's first official game of the season until after the international players return from their midweek duty.
The Blaugrana are due to play Athletic Club de Bilbao in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup on
Sunday in San Mamés, but the coach will not work with several of his first-team squad until they
are back from playing for their countries.
Without the internationals
Those players that were not called up by their national teams were given until Wednesday off
after returning from the United States on Sunday evening and will be back at the Ciutat Esportiva
at 9.30am. No less than 11 players will be unavailable for that session, while Rafa Márquez
travelled to be with the Mexico squad despite injury and Thierry Henry is recovering from an ankle
injury.
Up for the cup
Barça meet Athletic at 10am on Sunday in the first official game of the
2009/10 campaign and the squad will have just three sessions together, on Thursday, Friday and
Saturday, together to prepare.
Flying on the day
On the day of the game the players will also train at 9.30am in Camp Nou before travelling to
the airport in El Prat to fly up to Bilbao.