FCBARCELONA.CAT

29.09.2009 23:51

Iniesta returns to the team

Jordi Clos

Iniesta is back in the starting line-up after more than four months. He was one of nine home-grown players used against Dynamo while Jeffren made his Champions League debut.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Guardiola revealed that Andrés Iniesta was not 100 % fit. However, against Dynamo Kiev, he took another step along the path to full recovery and featured in the starting line-up for the first time since the Rome final. And as always, he turned in a good performance.

Very active

During the 45 minutes he spent on the pitch, Iniesta started in the left-wing position but gradually moved towards the centre. He passed the ball effectively and claimed a penalty in the 14th minute. By the break he had successfully completed 36 of 42 passes, made four attempts to go round his marker (only Messi tried more) and had one shot on goal.

Guardiola told reporters that Iniesta’s reintroduction to the team had gone according to plan and described it as “the best news of the evening”.

Nine academy products

Andrés Iniesta was one of an amazing nine home-grown players used by Pep Guardiola against Dynamo Kiev. Valdés, Puyol, Piqué, Xavi, Messi and Iniesta all started the game while Pedro, Busquets and Jeffren came on in the second half.

For Jeffren, it was his first taste of Champions League football. The Venezuelan youngster (21) made his first league appearance in matchday 35 last season.