Focused on league debut

FC Barcelona return to work on Thursday morning to start preparations for Sunday's Liga opener away to Athletic Club

After a two-day break, which gave the players some welcome rest after a hectic week of European and Spanish Super Cup action, FC Barcelona were back at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper for training on Thursday. Attentions can finally be switched entirely on the Liga 2015/16 schedule, which starts this weekend with yet another fixture against Athletic Club.

The competition actually gets under way this Friday 21 August, but Barça will be one of the last teams to get started, with their game in Bilbao kicking off at 6.30pm CET on Sunday 23.

Luis Enrique and his staff were able to work with all of the available players this morning, and also included Barça B’s Gerard Gumbau and Juan Cámara in the session. Pedro Rodríguez was given special permission by the club to miss training in order to concentrate on matters concerning his future.

The Spanish agency for the protection of health in sport also visited the training camp this morning to conduct a routine doping check. Rakitic, Sergio, Iniesta, Messi and Bartra were the players singled out for testing.

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