Barcelona pay tribute to Chapecoense

Players of Chapecoense and Barcelona pose for a photo during the Joan Gamper Trophy match between FC Barcelona and Chapecoense at the Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona, Spain on August 7, 2017. [Photo/VCG]

HONORARY KICK-OFF

Former goalkeeper Follmann, who had to have his leg amputated after the crash and wears a prosthetic leg to walk, took the honorary kick-off with defender Neto, who could not hold back the tears when he came out of the tunnel.

Neto required knee surgery and a gallbladder operation after the crash but has said he plans to return to playing next year.

Up in the stadium press box, Rafael Henzel, a journalist who survived the crash, commentated on the game.

Defender Ruschel was playing his second game since suffering spinal injuries in the crash and wore the captain's armband, kissing the Nou Camp turf before the game began and raising his hands to the air in tribute to his fallen team mates.

He only managed to play 35 minutes before being substituted and was given a standing ovation by the 64,705 supporters inside the stadium. He then swapped shirts with Lionel Messi when the five times world player of the year left the pitch at halftime.

"They deserve this day, they are heroes," said Deulofeu, who returned to his boyhood club in the transfer window after spells at Sevilla, Everton and AC Milan and had opened the scoring.

"The truth is we all shed a tear for them after the disaster."

Reuters