Small group at Thursday training

With the departure of Seydou Keita to the Mali national team, five Barça players -Pinto and Fontàs, and the injured trio of Puyol, Maxwell and Afellay- exercised on Thursday morning at the Ciutat Esportiva. Piqué and Adriano have worked outside the group as they continue with their recoveries.

The international matches over the next few days are very noticeable at Can Barça, with 14 players currently away working with their national teams. That has meant that first team training sessions this week have involved only a small group. After training on Wednesday, Keita became the latest player to depart for his national team.

Pitch no. 2 of the Ciutat Esportiva was the setting for the latest training, which unlike Wednesday, was not held in conjunction with Barça B. The reserve team led by Eusebio does have a game this weekend, on Sunday at 18:00 as they travel to meet Cartagena.

Tito Vilanova, who is leading the session while Pep Guardiola is participating in UEFA’s meeting of coaches in Nyon, was able to work with Pinto, Fontàs, and the injured Puyol, Maxwell and Afellay. Four players from Barça B joined in the first team training session: Masip, Deulofeu, Femenía and Lobato.

On pitch no. 1 Adriano and Muniesa could be found, working to recover from their respective injuries. Meanwhile, Piqué did specific work in the gym.

Barça, missing the majority of the squad, will return for another training session on Friday morning. The group will begin working at 9:30 at the Ciutat Esportiva and the first 15 minutes will be open to the media. This will be the last session of the week as the coaches wish to rest the players who have stayed in Barcelona.