04.01.2011 12:06

Afellay, Messi and Puyol, new for Bilbao

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The Dutchman’s debut and the returns of the captain and the Argentinian are the attractions of the cup game at San Mamés. Maxwell misses the game as precautionary measure.

Barça’s winter signing, Ibrahim Afellay, has been named in the squad for the first time in the cup game against Athletic Bilbao, where the players will have to turn around the 0-0 draw from the first leg. Carles Puyol has been given medical clearance to play and there is further good news in the return of Leo Messi, who trained on Monday after getting special permission to skip the game against Levante.

Maxwell is sidelined with a groin strain, although it is nothing serious, and Thiago comes in from Barcelona B.

Decisive match

The squad trained on Tuesday behind closed doors at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Puyol rejoined the rest after a few days in isolation, while Maxwell and the fever-hit Mascherano stayed in the gym. Youth players Miño, Bartra and Thiago joined the first team.

That made a total of 21 players at Sant Joan Despí on a very cold morning on which the main focus was on the tactics to be employed in the crucial cup game against Bilbao.