Barcelona vs Osasuna Preview

Barcelona vs Osasuna Preview

Thierry Henry was back in training with Barcelona as they face Osasuna in their last match at the Nou Camp this season.

Henry has been sidelined since Barcelona's stunning 6-2 win at Real Madrid earlier this month - in which he scored twice - and was thought to be doubtful for Wednesday's Champions League final against Manchester United in Rome.

But it now looks as if the France striker will be fit to face United, although his participation in tomorrow's Primera Division game against Osasuna seems unlikely.

Henry took part in the opening minutes of Barca's training session before continuing with his individual work.

Andres Iniesta also trained alone and the midfielder is a big doubt for the final after a recurrence of a thigh problem in the recent 3-3 draw with Villarreal.

Iniesta will definitely not feature against Osasuna.

Barcelona have already won both the league and the Copa del Rey this season, and with Wednesday's final in mind, coach Pep Guardiola looks set to name a second-string line-up tomorrow.

Along with Henry and Iniesta, Dani Alves, Rafa Marquez and Gabi Milito are also sidelined.

Eric Abidal is suspended for Wednesday's match, though, and should play against Osasuna.

Guardiola is still unsure which player to field in the left-back position against United, and may take the opportunity to try out Mali midfielder Seydou Keita in that role tomorrow.

Keita claimed earlier this week that he would prefer not to play as a left-back against United, but Guardiola revealed today that the player would be willing to start in any position for Barcelona.

"I haven't met many people as generous as him," he said.

"In the conversation we had, he said that if necessary he would even play in goal.

"But [he also said] that he is not a specialist full-back and that I should contemplate the risk involved if I play him there.

"That helps me to know the situation and now I will try to convince him."

Guardiola says Barcelona will set out to win the game tomorrow.

"I don't have many options because we have a lot of players out, but we'll go out there to do a professional job and to win the match," he said.

Osasuna are currently 18th and Guardiola believes his side owe it to the other teams at the bottom of the table to give their best tomorrow.

"Out of respect to the other clubs at the bottom, we have to be professional and try our best to win the game, so that's what we'll do," he said.

Youngsters Xavi Torres, Marc Muniesa, Abraham, Oier Olazabal, Jeffren Suarez and Alberto Botia and Gai Assulin all trained with the first-team today and could feature.

Osasuna looked to be cruising towards Primera Division survival just a few weeks ago, but the Pamplona-based side have picked up only two points from the last five matches and are back in the bottom three with two games left.

After the tough trip to Barcelona, Osasuna finish the season with a difficult match at home to Real Madrid.

The scenario is far from a bright one for the Navarran outfit, but coach Jose Antonio Camacho says his team play better when they are written off.

"We have produced our best performances when nobody has given us a chance and for some reason we haven't responded when we've been comfortable - now we have to do it again," he said.

With two games left, Osasuna sit level on points with 17th-placed Sporting Gijon and one behind Getafe, in 16th.

Nacho Monreal and Masoud Shojaei could return from injury but Sergio Fernandez, Dady, Roversio Rodrigues, Sunny and Ludovic Delporte all miss out.


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