27.12.2010 12:00

Barça B return from break

Aida Soriano

The B team will be back in training this evening after a week’s break to begin preparations for their game against Las Palmas on Sunday.

With the 1-1 draw against Ponferradina in the last game of 2010 still fresh in their minds, the squad will no doubt be heeding Luis Enrique ’s demand after that game for more intensity from his players.

Busy week

The players will be back at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper at 17.30 this evening to begin preparations for the game against Las Palmas, their first game of 2011, with a total of 7 sessions programmed for this week, morning and afternoon on Tuesday and Wednesday. And a single morning session on Thursday and Friday. 25 players, including Youth Team player Sergi Gomez have been called up for this evening’s training, with Thiago not included, as he will be with the first team squad from Wednesday.

Both teams in need of a win

The game against Las Palmas will be a chance for the team to put an end to their six game run without a win – one defeat and five draws – and confirm their solid start to the campaign that saw them finish the year in sixth place. Las Palmas are seven places and six points below Barça B and come into the game on the back of three straight defeats, the latest a 5-2 loss in Cartegena. The stats though, are not too positive for Luis Enrique’s team, with the reserves claiming just one win from their six visits to Las Palmas, that one coming in the 1983/84 season when they won 0-1.