FCBARCELONA.CAT

19.02.2010 12:34

Touré and Chygrynskiy hoping to be ready

Anna Segura

Touré Yaya and Dmytro Chygrynskiy continued their race to be fit for the weekend encounter with racing Santander as the rest of the squad enjoyed an intense training session on Friday morning.

Josep Guardiola maintained the focus as the players learnt more about their opponents and worked on tactics to prevent a surprise in Camp Nou when the Cantabrian outfit visit on Saturday (8pm). After the first defeat of the league campaign last weekend in Vicente Calderón the Blaugrana are looking to bounce straight back.

Closely watched

While 20 players trained as youth team starlets joined the first team squad, Touré and Chygrynskiy were being watched closely as they continued to work normally ahead of a final fitness test that will determine if they are able to play against after overcoming knocks.

Alves continues comeback

Dani Alves has been working at the training complex since Monday and he again worked on his own on Friday as he continues on the road back to making a full recovery. After doing some ball work he was put through a circuit designed by the fitness coaches to build up his strength again.

Xavi was also out on the pitch working with a coach as he bids to bounce back from the injury sustained last weekend, but Seydou Keita and Éric Abidal remained in the building to work on their injuries.

Moving on up

Marc Bartra, Thiago Alcántara and Jonathan Dos Santos joined the first team squad to make up the numbers and all three are in contention for a place in Guardiola’s squad for the visit of Racing.

Márquez y Piqué

The 18 players for the weekend match will not be announced until the day of the game. Guardiola has been buoyed by the news that Rafa Márquez and Gerard Piqué are both available again to bolster the defence.