Brazilian team Chapecoense back on field for first game since plane crash

The new Chapecoense squad was assembled in just two months Credit: AP

Brazilian football team Chapecoense have played their play first game since the plane crash which killed 71, including almost the entire team.

A total of 22 new players took part in the friendly against defending Brazilian league champions Palmeiras on Saturday January 21.

The new squad was assembled in just two months after 19 players were killed en route to the biggest match in the club's 43-year history - the Copa Sudamericana final against Colombia's Atletico Nacional.

The new Chapecoense team en route to training in Chapeco Credit: AP Images

There were just six survivors, three of which were players, in the tragedy which saw the plane go down over the Andes.

Rui Costa, brought in from Brazilian club Gremio, was made football director one week after the tragedy and worked '24 hours a day' to rebuild the team.

New players were selected from a list of 90 possibles and recruited fast to 'restore the culture of the club'.

Survivor Alan Ruschel will not play in the game today Credit: AP Images

Winger Alan Ruschel, defender Neto and goalkeeper Jakson Follmann were the only players to survive and while none played in the game on Saturday, they all hope to be involved in the future.

Last time the team's supporters filled stadium Arena Conda in Chapeco it was to receive the dead bodies of the tragedy in the rain, but this time they welcome their new team.