Although recovering well from injury, Xavi and Mathieu are not in the squad for the fourth preseason friendly
Luis Enrique has called up 20 players (14 from the first team and 6 from Barça B) for this Saturday’s match in Helsinki
Xavi Hernández and Jérémy Mathieu are not travelling to Finland. Although they are both recovering well from their respective injuries, they have not been included, as a precautionary measure, in the the squad for the fourth preseason friendly, this Saturday, against HJK Hèlsinki. The squad of 20 includes 14 players from the first team and 6 from Barça B. Song and Afellay have been left out for technical reasons, whilst Adriano, who was diagnosed with a heart murmur, has also been left out. The last players returning from the World Cup, Mascherano, Alves, Messi and Neymar Jr, who is also still out injured, have also remained in Barcelona.
Mathieu trained with the main group
Although not in the squad for Finland, and still not gien the medical all-clear, Mathieu trained normally with his teammates in Friday’s morning session. Adriano did some of the wrok with the main group, whilst Xavi i Neymar Jr did some specific recovery work. The six players from Barça B who are in the squad, trained with the group (Ié, Grimaldo, Samper, Halilovic, Munir and Sandro).
The squad will leave the Ciudad Esportiva at 2.15 p.m. and will arrive in Helsinki around 8 p.m., one hour ahead of Barcelona local time. Later, at the team hotel, Montoya and Busquets will appear at the press conference.