Regeneration and training at club HQ

The focus at the club has turned exclusively to the Barcelona showdown. As usual on the day after a match, the players who only featured as substitutes or not at all in the previous day’s game completed a normal workout on Sunday. A total of 11 players, including three reserves, gathered in the morning on the Säbener Strasse practice ground where they trained using Champions League footballs. The rest of the squad reported to the performance center for regenerative exercise.

Rode back on the ball

Sebastian Rode is poised to resume team training after recovering from a sprain. The midfielder completed a solo workout on Sunday morning but with the ball back at his feet. Rode was sidelined for the games against Leverkusen, Barcelona and Augsburg.

Barça close in on title

Barcelona have taken a giant stride towards winning the Spanish championship. Three days prior to the Champions League semi-final return against Bayern, Luis Enrique’s men posted a comfortable 2-0 home win over Real Sociedad San Sebastian with goals from Neymar and sub Pedro. Two hours later, Barça’s last remaining title rivals Real Madrid dropped points at home in a 2-2 draw with Valencia, leaving the Catalans needing just one more win to seal the domestic crown, as they are four points clear at the top with two games to play.