Alves and Piqué in squad

Good news for the Barça coaches. For Saturday’s game away to Levante (22.00, TV3 and La Sexta), Barça have both Gerard Piqué and Dani Alves available. The two defenders have been declared fully fit following their respective muscular problems. The centre back has been missing for two league matches and the right back was out for the Getafe game.

But Seydou Keita has been left out as a precautionary measure. The Malian has been having minor thigh trouble, and therefore joins Villa, Fontàs, Abidal and Afellay as an absentee. The latter has actually been given medical clearance, but has not been included in the team, while reserve players Cristian Tello and Martin Montoya do make the squad.

Congratulations for Puyol

Friday’s training session at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper started with a round of applause in honour of Carles Puyol’s 34th birthday. Alves and Piqué both worked out normally, but Keita exercised separately due to his fitness concerns. Tello and Montoya were also there for the final session before travelling south to Valencia for Saturday’s Liga fixture.