FCBARCELONA.CAT

09.09.2007 18:56

Back to work on Monday

Anna Segura

After a weekend with no top flight football in the Spanish league, FC Barcelona will return to training on Monday as they begin preparations for the Copa Catalunya final.

The players will be back training at 10:30 in the Miniestadi, although the majority of the squad will still be away on international duty. On Tuesday the Blaugrana meet Gimnàstic in the Copa Catalunya final in Palamós at 21:45 (live on Barça TV; Barça TV Online and TV3).

Youth involvement

Like last week, coach Frank Rijkaard will call upon the majority of the B team to make up the numbers in training as many of them will be involved in the game a day later. The first team regulars that will also be involved again are Víctor Valdés, Albert Jorquera, Oleguer, Sylvinho and Santiago Ezquerro.

The first one back

One of the first players to return from international duty will be Touré Yaya, who only had one game for his country during the break. The midfielder helped the Ivory Coast earn the point they needed to qualify for the African Nations' Cup in a draw in Gabon.

While one player comes back, another one leaves as Rafael Márquez has jetted off to the United States after being called up by Mexico to play for his country in a friendly encounter with Brazil in Boston in midweek.