On Thursday evening, Frank Rijkaard conducted the first training session to include the majority of the international players ahead of the weekend’s match against Villarreal. Giovani and Ronaldinho were the only players not to make it back in time.

Today’s session was the first time most of the senior players had been able to train at the La Masía training grounds since their return from their international commitments. Frank Rijkaard can now begin preparations for Saturday’s Villarreal game in earnest (20.00 h, Barça TV and PPV).

However, the manager was without Ronaldinho and Giovani Dos Santos, who will arrive in Barcelona on Friday after playing in the early hours of this morning (Spanish time).

Injured players

Gianluca Zambrotta began the session with the rest of the group, taking part in the warm-up and the ball-control exercises. The Italian defender is still recovering from the leg injury he picked up against Sevilla.

Meanwhile, Touré Yaya exercised before the others appeared. For his part, Rafa Márquez trained alone, but with rather more intensity than over the last few days.

Circuit training

The three French internationals, Abidal, Thuram and Henry, plus Milito, did not take part in the usual ball-control exercises and instead did some jogging and circuit training. The rest of the players went through the same routine later after which the internationals – apart from Puyol - returned to the dressing rooms. The Barça captain stayed behind to work out with the rest of his team-mates.

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