Intensive week

The first team will be having a series of intensive training sessions to get ready for their two games this week with a place in the Spanish Cup Final and three invaluable League points at stake.After yesterday’s two-all draw at Almería, Frank Rijkaard’s side are today kicking off a week of intensive preparations for the return leg in the semi-finals of the King’s Cup at Mestalla on Thursday and the League fixture on Sunday when the visitors will be Valladolid. Three sessions before travelling to Valencia Before the squad head off to Valencia on Wednesday they will have had three sessions in Barcelona. The first, this Monday morning at La Masía, will be a warm-down from this weekend’s game. The players will then train behind closed doors on Tuesday at 6 pm in the Miniestadi and on Wednesday at 11 am in the Camp Nou. Wednesday’s session will be the last before the team travels to Valencia to take on Ronald Koeman’s outfit on Thursday with kick-off set for 8.45 pm. Two sessions to gear up for the League Then with hardly a break the first team will be back at La Masia at midday on Friday to start getting ready for Sunday’s home League fixture against Valladolid (kick-off: 5 pm). Frank Rijkaard will put the finishing touches to his preparations at 6.30 pm on Saturday evening behind closed doors in the Camp Nou and then announce his squad for the matchday 29 League encounter. Afterwards the players will head off for their pre-match hotel.