This archive report was first published on 6 May 2020.
As Spain eases its lockdown measures, La Liga clubs are taking the first steps towards resuming their seasons. On Wednesday, players at Barcelona and Real Madrid underwent coronavirus tests, marking the beginning of their return to training.
Barcelona captain Lionel Messi and France international Antoine Griezmann were among the players who arrived at the club's training centre early in the morning. Similarly, players at Real Madrid, including Eden Hazard and Karim Benzema, underwent health checks at the club's training base.
The testing is part of La Liga's strict medical protocol, which requires teams to comply with health guidelines before resuming training. Results from the coronavirus tests are typically known within 48 hours.
Atletico Madrid, who also carried out tests on Wednesday, aim to resume training immediately once the results are known. The club's midfielder, Marcos Llorente, expressed the team's eagerness to return to training, saying, "It's been a very strange time for us. We've never gone as long without touching a ball and we are eager for it all to restart."
La Liga's four-phase de-escalation programme, announced by the Spanish government, allows players to initially train alone, with a maximum of six players on the pitch. The programme will then permit training in small groups before a return to larger team sessions.
La Liga is proposing to complete its season behind closed doors, with games starting again in the middle of June. League president Javier Tebas emphasized the importance of prioritizing people's health, saying, "People's health is paramount, so we have a comprehensive protocol to safeguard the health of everyone involved as we work to restart La Liga."
Spain has been one of the worst-hit countries in the world by the coronavirus pandemic, with almost 26,000 deaths as of Wednesday.
