In this photo provided by FC Barcelona, Lionel Messi trains in Barcelona, Spain, on Friday May 8, 2020. Soccer players in Spain returned to train for the first time since the country entered a lockdown nearly two months ago because of the coronavirus pandemic. (Miguel Ruiz/FC Barcelona via AP)
The Associated Press
MADRID (AP) - It was a beautiful sight for soccer fans: Lionel Messi juggling a soccer ball again.
The Barcelona star hadn't been on a training field for nearly two months, since Spain went into a lockdown because of the coronavirus pandemic.
But he and other Spanish league players returned on Friday to individual training sessions as their teams began preparing for soccer's return.
The players hadn't practiced since the confinement began on March 14. The league was suspended two days before that.
Barcelona, Sevilla and Villarreal were among the first clubs back after the Spanish government this week loosened some of the restrictions that had been in place in the hard-hit southern European nation.
Atlético Madrid is set to resume its activities on Saturday and Real Madrid's players will be back at their training camp on Monday.
The league is expected to restart in June without spectators.
Players and teams are having to follow strict guidelines to guarantee everyone's safety during the practices.
All players, coaches and club employees were tested for COVID-19 before practice resumed. The league has not yet released results but some local media reports said three unnamed players tested positive. The information was not independently confirmed.
The teams' facilities are being constantly disinfected, and players are having to avoid interactions with teammates.
Messi was by himself when the club's TV channel filmed him juggling the ball. There were photos of him and other players doing conditioning drills.
The media is not allowed to cover the teams' trainings, with the league and the clubs themselves being responsible for distributing training footage and photos.
Barcelona's players practiced at different parts of the team's training camp to uphold social distancing.
Coach Quique Setién was wearing gloves and a mask as he watched from afar. Players had their regular training uniforms but no masks or gloves while on the field.
They are supposed to have them on at all other times while inside the training center.
The league sent clubs a detailed four-stage protocol for the return to practice. The individual training will be followed by smaller group sessions and then full squad sessions.
In this initial stage, players have to travel by themselves to the facilities and must arrive already wearing their training uniforms. No more than six players are allowed on the field at the same time, and they must stay 'œthe greatest distance possible'ť from each other.
The use of training equipment should be limited and coaches must supervise players from a distance. Only one or two players can share the gym at a time.
The league protocol, which was prepared by the medical staff of some first-division clubs, recommends that players - and those living with them - should not leave their homes other than to go to practice. It says each club must establish a food-delivery system for first-team players.
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In this photo provided by FC Barcelona, Barcelona's Lionel Messi trains in Barcelona, Spain, on Friday May 8, 2020. Soccer players in Spain returned to train for the first time since the country entered a lockdown nearly two months ago because of the coronavirus pandemic. (Miguel Ruiz/FC Barcelona via AP)
The Associated Press
In this photo provided by FC Barcelona, Barcelona's coach Quique Setien watches his players doing a training session in Barcelona, Spain on Friday May 8, 2020. Soccer players in Spanish player returned to train for the first time since the country entered a lockdown nearly two months ago because of the coronavirus pandemic. (Miguel Ruiz/FC Barcelona via AP)
The Associated Press
In this photo provided by FC Barcelona, Barcelona's Gerard Pique runs with the ball during a training session in Barcelona, Spain on Friday May 8, 2020. Soccer players in Spain returned to train for the first time since the country entered a lockdown nearly two months ago because of the coronavirus pandemic. (Miguel Ruiz/FC Barcelona via AP)
The Associated Press
In this photo provided by FC Barcelona, Luis Suarez walks wearing a protective face mask at the club's training ground in Barcelona, Spain, on Wednesday May 6, 2020. Soccer players in Spain returned to their team's training camps Wednesday for the first time since the country entered a lockdown nearly two months ago because of the coronavirus pandemic. Players for Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid and other clubs started preparing for the return to training this week, and they were all expected to be tested for COVID-19 and should be cleared to practice once the results are back. (Miguel Ruiz/FC Barcelona via AP)
The Associated Press
In this photo provided by FC Barcelona, Antoine Griezmann gives the thumbs-up wearing a protective face mask at the club's training ground in Barcelona, Spain, on Wednesday May 6, 2020. Soccer players in Spain returned to their team's training camps Wednesday for the first time since the country entered a lockdown nearly two months ago because of the coronavirus pandemic. Players for Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid and other clubs started preparing for the return to training this week, and they were all expected to be tested for COVID-19 and should be cleared to practice once the results are back. (Miguel Ruiz/FC Barcelona via AP)
The Associated Press
In this photo provided by FC Barcelona, Arturo Vidal walks wearing a protective face mask and gloves at the club's training ground in Barcelona, Spain, on Wednesday May 6, 2020. Soccer players in Spain returned to their team's training camps Wednesday for the first time since the country entered a lockdown nearly two months ago because of the coronavirus pandemic. Players for Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid and other clubs started preparing for the return to training this week, and they were all expected to be tested for COVID-19 and should be cleared to practice once the results are back. (Miguel Ruiz/FC Barcelona via AP)
The Associated Press
In this photo provided by Atletico Madrid, Diego Costa wearing a face mask and gloves attends the club's training ground in Madrid, Spain, on Wednesday May 6, 2020. Soccer players in Spain returned to their team's training camps Wednesday for the first time since the country entered a lockdown nearly two months ago because of the coronavirus pandemic. (Atletico Madrid via AP)
The Associated Press
In this photo provided by Atletico Madrid, Alvaro Morata wearing a face mask and gloves attends the club's training ground in Madrid, Spain, on Wednesday May 6, 2020. Soccer players in Spain returned to their team's training camps Wednesday for the first time since the country entered a lockdown nearly two months ago because of the coronavirus pandemic. (Atletico Madrid via AP)
The Associated Press