FCBARCELONA.CAT

10.08.2009 17:25

International week and Super Cup build-up

www.fcbarcelona.cat

Pep Guardiola will not be able to prepare for FC Barcelona's first official game of the season until after the international players return from their midweek duty.

The Blaugrana are due to play Athletic Club de Bilbao in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup on Sunday in San Mamés, but the coach will not work with several of his first-team squad until they are back from playing for their countries.

Without the internationals

Those players that were not called up by their national teams were given until Wednesday off after returning from the United States on Sunday evening and will be back at the Ciutat Esportiva at 9.30am. No less than 11 players will be unavailable for that session, while Rafa Márquez travelled to be with the Mexico squad despite injury and Thierry Henry is recovering from an ankle injury.

Up for the cup

Barça meet Athletic at 10am on Sunday in the first official game of the 2009/10 campaign and the squad will have just three sessions together, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, together to prepare.

Flying on the day

On the day of the game the players will also train at 9.30am in Camp Nou before travelling to the airport in El Prat to fly up to Bilbao.