Barcelona play Brazilian side Chapecoense today in the Joan Gamper trophy at the Camp Nou.

The fixture was setup as a way of showing support from Barcelona to Chapecoense after strategy struck last November.

All eyes are expected to be on the Barcelona superstars as they play their first match at the Camp Nou this season. But the spectators would also be looking at Alan Ruschel who would captain his team.

The defender was one of six survivors of the November plane crash that wipe out the team and staffs, killing a total of 71 people.

Ruschel has been training in Barcelona with his teammates and is looking forward to the game.

“You have to be grateful to Barcelona for helping us,” he said. “Not just them, but a lot of people have shown solidarity and great humanity.”

“I have a great happiness to be able to return, it’s a dream to play at Camp Nou against the best in the world, a dream I’ve had since infancy.

“But beyond that the most important thing is to be able to play again.” He is conscious his return “is making a lot of people happy”.

“The hardest part is the psychological,. I have memories of all types, I came through difficult and delicate moments, but always thinking about God.

“He wanted it to be like this. It seemed impossible, but today here I am, I’m alive and very grateful to God.”

He is also looking forward to meeting Lionel Messi and added: “It would be a great gift to swap shirts with Messi, the best player in the world and one of the best in the history of football.”

Ruschel suffered a serious back injury in the crash. But after successful surgery and rehabilitation, he now makes his second appearance after the accident.

He is so far the only player who was on the ill-fated plane to have returned to professional football.

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