FC Barcelona checks out Spartak Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium pitch
Barça Manager Tito Vilanova put his squad through their paces in Moscow on Monday evening and the players had their first chance to check out the artificial pitch Spartak’s stadium. The preparatory session for Tuesday’s Champions League game was held in freezing conditions.
Moscow (FCB).- FC Barcelona squad trained on the Luzhniki pitch ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League game with FC Spartak Moscow. Barça players were able to get their first taste of the artificial pitch, a surface which they are certainly not used to. Furthermore, the preparatory session for Tuesday’s game was held in freezing conditions. However, Cesc Fàbregas made clear in his press conference that neither the cold nor the pitch can be used “as an excuse”.
Low temperatures
All 21 players who made the trip – 17 from Barça’s first team squad and 4 from the B team – were out on Spartak’s pitch on Monday at 18.00 local time. Together with the coaching staff, they were well wrapped up against the cold, with temperatures between one degree above and two below freezing in the Russian capital.