Barca move on to honour Chapecoense

BARCELONA eased into life without Neymar by honouring Chapecoense, the Brazilian side still reeling from a devastating plane crash that killed 19 players and 24 club officials last year, in a 5-0 friendly win on Monday.

On an emotional night for the visitors, Chapecoense were captained by Alan Ruschel, one of only three players to survive the crash, on his return to action.

Ruschel was joined by the two other survivors, Nieto and Jakson Follmann, from the squad who were on their way to face Atletico Nacional in the final of the Copa Sudamericana when the aircraft crashed into Colombian mountains on November 28 last year, killing 71 people.

Nieto and former goalkeeper Follmann, who had his right leg amputated after the crash, both broke down in tears as they were invited to take an honorary kick-off in front of a crowd of 65,000 at the Camp Nou.

“I am filled with happiness to be returning to play,” Ruschel told Spanish newspaper Marca. “I am one of the happiest people in the world because I am l i v i ng something almost unthinkable. I consider myself fortunate to be in Spain, facing Barcelona in a stadium where I never thought I would be.”

Funds raised from the match will “help Chapecoense rebuild institutionally and recover the competitive level it had before the tragedy”, Barcelona said.

Ruschel was given the unenviable task of facing up to fivetime World Player of the Year Lionel Messi on his return and, despite the sentimentality of the occasion, Barcelona didn’t let up once the game got underway.

On a sporting level t he Cata lan giants have had a turbulent week with star Brazilian f or w a r d Ne y ma r j oi n i ng Ligue 1’s Paris Saint-Germain for a world record € 222 million ($264 million) transfer fee.

Barca are expected to splash some of that cash in the coming weeks with a host of players rumoured to be possible Neymar replacements, including Liverpool’s Phillipe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele of Borussia Dortmund.

However, forward Gerard Deulofeu made his case to keep his place for Sunday’s Spanish Super Cup first leg against Real Madrid with a goal and two assists before half-time.