FC Barcelona held its second training session of the week on Thursday morning, just over 48 hours ahead of its next La Liga match, which puts it against in-form SD Eibar on Saturday afternoon. Kickoff at the Ipurua Municipal Stadium is set for 4.15pm CET.
Barça opened the week with a recovery session on Monday — following Sunday’s scoreless draw with Getafe at Camp Nou — and was granted a pair of rest days on Tuesday and Wednesday, before returning to work on Thursday.
But while manager Ernesto Valverde and the coaching staff are keeping the players focused on Saturday’s match at Eibar, next week’s impending Champions League last 16 battle with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge — set for Tuesday night at 8.45pm CET — looms large.
Nevertheless, with next week’s much-anticipated continental clash still several days away, Thursday’s workout was all about readying for the trip to Eibar, which has put together a stellar run over the last 12 league match days and will no doubt challenge Barça, as the Catalans seek to tie a club record 31st straight league game without a defeat.
Thomas Vermaelen and Ousmane Dembélé were out on the practice field Thursday, as was Barça B’s Carles Aleñá. The session also produced a tender moment for striker Paco Alcácer, who was congratulated by his teammates on the birth of his first child — it’s a girl! — the day befor