Barcelona players enjoy three days rest after US tour

After finishing their pre-season tour of the United States, Spanish football giants FC Barcelona players will rest for three days before returning to training later this week.

Coach Ernesto Valverde's team will return to practice on August 2 at Joan Gamper Sports City, reports Efe.

The Catalan team will enjoy the three-day rest after winning the three friendlies in the US and claiming the International Champions Cup.

Barcelona will begin preparing for the Gamper Trophy, a friendly against Brazilian club Chapecoense on August 7.

The Brazilian club is still trying to recover from the tragedy that struck it last year.

The plane Chapecoense chartered to fly to Medellin, Colombia, to face Atletico Nacional in the Copa Sudamericana final crashed on November 28, killing 71 people.

Based in the small southern city of Chapeco, Chapecoense was languishing in the fourth division of Brazilian soccer as recently as six years ago and fans across the football-mad nation rallied behind the club ahead of the Copa Sudamericana final.

Barça will host La Liga champion Real Madrid on August 13 in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup, while the second leg will take place on August 16.

Brazilian striker Neymar da Silva did not arrive in Spain with the rest of the team, flying instead from Miami to Shanghai, where he will attend a promotional event representing Barcelona on Monday.

--IANS

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