Barcelona back in training after nearly 2 months away

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Barcelona returned to training on Friday after almost two months away due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The squad underwent individual sessions across three pitches at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper following Wednesday's medical tests. First-team players trained at different times during the morning and will follow a similar routine Saturday as part of La Liga's four-phase plan to prepare teams for the 2019-20 season's resumption.

All Barcelona players conducted dribbling and running exercises with the exception of Ousmane Dembele, according to Richard Martin of Reuters. The Frenchman, who's dealt with an injury-hit campaign, is carrying a hamstring ailment and isn't registered with the squad since the club signed Martin Braithwaite from Leganes in February.

Lionel Messi and his teammates have a two-point lead over Real Madrid at the top of La Liga with 11 matches remaining. France's Ligue 1 and the Netherlands' Eredivisie have already canceled their respective seasons, but La Liga president Javier Tebas is determined to conclude the 2019-20 campaign and avoid a financial loss of €1 billion.

Leganes' veteran manager Javier Aguirre said Thursday that La Liga's return date is set for June 20.