Tito Vilanova’s team has begun a preseason that will, over the course of the next month, take them around Europe and Northern Africa, before the squad faces Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup and the start of the League, against Real Sociedad, on August 19.

The holidays are now over for the 14 players who did not have lengthy commitments with their national teams over the summer.

Due this Monday morning (8:30 am) for medical tests at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper were: Pinto, Alves, Villa, Alexis Sánchez, Messi, Thiago, Mascherano, Afellay, Adriano, Cuenca, Fontàs, Bartra, Jonathan Dos Santos, and Muniesa.

In stages, and divided into three time slots (9:30, 10:00, and 10:30 hours), the blaugrana players underwent various tests, including echocardiology, densitometry (body mass analysis), effort tests, muscular and skeletal echography, and biomechanical movement studies.

The first group consisted of Messi, Mascherano, Villa, and Pinto; the second was made up of Alves, Adriano, Alexis, and Fontàs; and the third involved Afellay, Dos Santos, Muniesa, Bartra, Thiago, and Cuenca.

Carles Puyol will join his teammates for training beginning next Monday, after working on his recovery in recent weeks. The rest of the internationals will return to work on July 30th. Barça’s summer signing, Jordi Alba, will play the Olympic Games in London and join his new squad afterwards, as will Tello and Montoya.

Training and the first press conference of the new coach will take place on Tuesday.

More images can be found here.

Sources: Sport, fcbarcelona.com; Images: Miguel Ruiz (FCB)