Several Barcelona stars train at club facilities despite Flick giving the day off

FC Barcelona secured a hard-fought 2-0 victory over CD Guadalajara in the Copa del Rey on Tuesday night, securing progression to the Round of 16.

Up next for the La Liga champions is a clash against Villarreal away at Estadio La Ceramica in their final match before the mid-season break.

Pedri, Ferran among players who train on day off

Following the team’s victory away at Guadalajara, Hansi Flick gave the Barcelona squad Thursday off. Even though a morning training session had initially been scheduled, the coach decided to grant the players an extra day of rest.

Despite that, several first-team players showed up to work at the Ciutat Esportiva this morning voluntarily, reports Mundo Deportivo.

Pedri, Ferran Torres, Wojciech Szczesny, and Dani Olmo were among those who took advantage of the day off to train on their own and stick to their specific preparation plans.

Szczesny trained on a day off. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images)

Of the quartet, Olmo is currently injured and recovering from a dislocated shoulder, with the Spanish playmaker targeting a return for the Catalan derby against RCD Espanyol in the first week of the new year.

Szczesny, meanwhile, had a great chance of starting against Guadalajara in the Copa del Rey encounter, but pushed for Flick to choose Marc-Andre ter Stegen instead.

As for Pedri and Ferran, the duo will likely be included in the starting XI when Barcelona take on Villarreal later this week, before the squad goes off for the Christmas break.

Ahead of that match, Flick’s side will hold two training sessions, on Friday and Saturday, to fine-tune their preparation against the Yellow Submarine.

Villarreal are enjoying a strong La Liga campaign, sitting third in the table, four points behind Real Madrid and eight behind Barça, albeit with two games in hand.