MADRID, May 8 -- Football teams in Spain's top two divisions are returning to training in the coming days to try to finish a season that was halted on March 9 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sevilla, Villarreal, Leganes and Osasuna were the first four teams back in action on Friday.
Players underwent coronavirus tests at the installations of their respective clubs during the week after training facilities had been thoroughly disinfected, such as at Real Sociedad's Zubieta complex.
Once shown to be free of the virus, players are then able to start training individually, progressing into groups of six and then eight as the lockdown in Spain is slowly eased through four separate stages.
However, the government's plan to ease the lockdown will see some regions progress faster than others, with Catalonia and probably Madrid a step behind some other parts of Spain, meaning players at teams such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, Espanyol and Atletico Madrid will not be able to train in groups as soon as other teams whose regions progress faster.
The plan of the Spanish Football League is to play this season's 11 remaining rounds of matches without supporters in the stadiums.
Spanish media reports suggest the competition will restart on June 20 and that clubs will play two games a week with a view to finishing on July 26.
Given that playing two matches a week at the height of summer will present a physical challenge to players who have been unable to train or kick a ball in anger for two months, La Liga has proposed allowing each side to use five substitutes, rather than the usual three, in order to lower the risk of injuries, while many clubs will keep players at their training grounds for the remainder of the season to limit the risk of infection from elsewhere.
体坛英语资讯:Australian surfer Fitzgibbons wins her first world tour title
体坛英语资讯:Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer rejects to extend contract
体坛英语资讯:China wins two more gold at 2011 synchronized swimming China Open
体坛英语资讯:Yao Ming stresses emotional attachment to Houston
体坛英语资讯:Real Madrid and Barcelona both win at La Liga
体坛英语资讯:Guardiola returns Mourinhos fire as Champions League clash nears
体坛英语资讯:Frances Monaco extends contract with Brazilian defender Adriano
体坛英语资讯:Valdano hails Mourinho as ideal coach for Real Madrid
The Punishment of Impulsion 冲动的惩罚
体坛英语资讯:2017 Olympic canoe slalom venue to open to public
体坛英语资讯:Over 20 million 2017 Olympic tickets applied for
国际英语资讯:Spotlight: Biden picks Kamala Harris as running mate in move teased by Trump team
国内英语资讯:Central govt official explains necessity of NPC Standing Committees decision on HKSAR Le
体坛英语资讯:Mourinho: Next season should be even better
体坛英语资讯:Xinjiang close to first CBA title
体坛英语资讯:Barcelona beats Osasuna ahead of Champions League semifinal
体坛英语资讯:Corinthians under pressure to fire head coach Tite
体坛英语资讯:Chinese duo Wu/He sweep diving season golds
体坛英语资讯:Andre Greipel of Germany wins sixth stage of Tour of Turkey
体坛英语资讯:Selby beats Hendry in style at Snooker worlds
体坛英语资讯:Canadas pair leads ice dance in figure skating worlds
体坛英语资讯:Paralyzed Chinese gymnast cites employees responsibility in 1.8b lawsuit
国内英语资讯:China wants U.S. bio-labs open to media scrutiny: FM spokesperson
国际英语资讯:Russia first to register vaccine against COVID-19: Putin
体坛英语资讯:Zaragoza take vital win to drop Almeria into relegation
国内英语资讯:Chinas top legislature concludes standing committee session
国际英语资讯:EU agrees MoU with 8 partners in support for COVID-19 fight
国际英语资讯:UN voices concern over severe flooding in Asia
体坛英语资讯:Barcelona lose left back Adriano for the rest of the season
体坛英语资讯:Iniesta not to miss Champions League semis