Barcelona stars greeted by thousands of fans at open training session ahead of Athletic Bilbao clash

  • Barcelona news: All the latest from the Nou Camp 
  • Barcelona were greeted by thousands of fans during their training session on Tuesday
  • The Spanish giants decided to hold an open session ahead of their Copa del Rey clash with Athletic Bilbao
  • Fans were eager for signatures and photographs with their idols and queued up to meet the stars
  • The Barca players also later stopped off to make a visit to a local children's hospital
  • Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Co surprised young fans and their families to make their new year extra special 

It has been a busy day for the stars of Barcelona, after an opening training session watched by thousands of supporters was followed by a surprise visit to a local children's hospital.

Lionel Messi and his fellow superstars turned out in front of masses of Barca supporters as the club hosted an open session prior to their Copa del Rey clash with Athletic Bilbao.

Fans packed in to the Joan Gamper miniature training stadium to get an up-close glimpse of their heroes in action, following their return from the winter break.  

Lionel Messi and his fellow stars took time to greet fans at their recent training session

Barcelona held an open-door event for fans to watch their idols put through their paces

Spectators watch on as the Barca stars go through one of their possession-based 'tiki taka' training drills

Brazilian superstar Neymar is swamped by requests to take photos and sign shirts 

Messi waves to the crowds of adoring fans watching on from the stands of the Joan Gamper training complex

The superstar receives instructions from his team-mate and Argentina captain Javier Mascherano

Luis Enrique's men stopped to sign shirts, flags and take 'selfies' with the Catalan faithful before the training got under way.

Barcelona are set to begin 2017 by locking horns with Bilbao in a fifth-round Copa del Rey showdown. 

The Nou Camp side will be hoping to sweep aside their opponents over the two legs in order to continue their defence of the trophy they won last season, breaking the hearts of Sevilla in the process.

Play-maker Arda Turan has his hands full as he attempts to deal with fans' requests

Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic is in high demand from the Barca faithful as they clamour for his signature 

Defender Jeremy Mathieu takes his turn to stop for the supporters and sign their club merchandise

Spanish midfielder Andres Iniesta offers an arm around the shoulder to team-mate Jordi Alba

Messi and Neymar carry the balls back to the equipment bag as the session comes to an end

A large crowd watched on as Barca went about their preparation drills

The day did not stop there for the Barca stars however, who the later shot off to make a surprise visit to a local children's hospital. 

Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar made the wishes of some young supporters come true by dropping in to spend some quality time with them.

The stars stopped for pictures with the fans and their families in Barcelona Childrens' Hospital in order to give the youngsters the happiest possible start to the new year.

Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi, Ivan Rakitic and Andres Iniesta spread the new year cheer to sick children at the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital in Catalonia on Tuesday

Messi and Luis Suarez pose for a picture with a young fan at Barcelona Childrens' Hospital

The star striking duo were all smiles as they got to meet the excited youngsters

Gerard Pique also got in on the action with team-mate Neymar, posing for snaps with fans donned in club colours

Fans will be hoping their idols can bring further joy be continuing on their winning run from 2016 and making up ground on bitter rivals Real Madrid.

In La Liga Barca currently sit three points adrift of leaders Madrid, having played a game extra.

The Catalan giants will also be wary of the chasing pack, with Sevilla breathing down their neck just one point behind.

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