Back to work

 
FC Barcelona's first team reported for training on the pitch in front of La Masia on Thursday morning with the focus being on recuperation and recovery following the Manchester United encounter the evening before.
Like normal, the players that began the Champions League game, have left before the end of the session. Xavi, Andrés Iniesta, Lionel Messi, Gianluca Zambrotta, Gaby Milito, Rafa Márquez, Touré Yaya and Éric Abidal were all present, but Samuel Eto'o was given permission to miss the session while Deco was nursing a blow to his back and did not train.

Edmílson and Oier

Other members of the squad that had not trained this week took part with Edmílson overcoming his back problems, Oier Olazábal being called up from the B squad and Thierry Henry returning after recovering from a fever. The Frenchman trained twice on Tuesday after missing Monday in order to be ready to make an appearance against Manchester United.

Normal session

For the players that did not start on Wednesday it was a normal training day with warm-ups to start and then sprints and shuttles with the ball. The goalkeepers trained with Juan Carlos Unzué after the initial warm-up routines.

The big match

Finally, Johan Neeskens and Eusebio Sacristán, who took the session, organised a small-sided game to end with on a reduced pitch. On one side were José Manuel Pinto, Lilian Thuram, Oleguer Presas, Edmílson, Eidur Gudjohnsen and Bojan Krkic and they played against Víctor Valdés, Carles Puyol, Sylvinho, Giovani Dos Santos, Santi Ezquerro and Henry, who won the game 8-7.