Barca captain Puyol returns to lineup
Barcelona's Carles Puyol (L) is accompanied by a physical trainer during the first training session at Joan Gamper training camp, near Barcelona, July 18, 2011
Image by: ALBERT GEA / REUTERS
Image by: ALBERT GEA / REUTERS
Barcelona captain Carles Puyol received medical clearance on Friday to return to play and has been called up to the bench for Saturday’s Spanish league match at Real Sociedad.
The Spain defender is listed in coach Pep Guardiola’s 21-player squad and could play for the first time since May after recovering from knee surgery.
The club also announced that Netherlands midfielder Ibrahim Afellay and Brazilian defenders Maxwell and Adriano have recovered from their respective injuries and are fit to play.
Centre back Gerard Pique remains sidelined with a calf injury.
In its seasons opener, Barcelona’s patchwork defense had no trouble containing Villarreal in route to a 5-0 win. The three-time defending champions last league loss came at Sociedad late last season.
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