Thomas Vermaelen receives medical green light for BATE trip

Vermaelen during the morning training session / MIGUEL RUIZ-FCB
The Belgian defender has recovered from injury and is one of 20 players headed to Belarus

Nike puts Champions League collection on sale

As ever in the Champions League, the team will wear a new kit. Nike has recently made its Champions League collection available via its store.

Thomas Vermaelen has received the medical green light and is a new addition to the FC Barcelona squad headed to Belarus to take on BATE Borisov on Tuesday 20 October (8.45pm CET). The Belgian centre-back had been out injured since 12 September during Barça’s visit to the Vicente Calderon.

A total of 20 players will make the journey for third Champions League group match of the season: Ter Stegen, Bravo, Masip, Vermaelen, Dani Alves, Jordi Alba, Adriano, Douglas, Mascherano, Piqué, Mathieu, Bartra, Sergi Roberto, Sergio Busquets, Rakitic, Gumbau, Munir, Sandro, Suárez and Neymar Jr.

As opposed to the usual Champions League routine, the team had their final training before the match in Barcelona rather than at the venue of the game. All available first team players took part, as did Gumbau from Barça B.

After the training session ended, the team went to El Prat airport to catch their flight to Belarus, which is expected to land at 6.45pm CET in Minsk.