• Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi take part in a training session. Getty Images
    Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi take part in a training session. Getty Images
  • Barcelona manager Quique Setien oversees a training session. Getty Images
    Barcelona manager Quique Setien oversees a training session. Getty Images
  • Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba, Junior Firpo, right, Arturo Vidal and Gerard Pique, left, during a training session in Barcelona. Getty Images
    Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba, Junior Firpo, right, Arturo Vidal and Gerard Pique, left, during a training session in Barcelona. Getty Images
  • Frenkie de Jong, Antoine Griezmann, Nelson Semedo, Clement Lenglet, Ivan Rakitic and Martin Braithwite during a training session. EPA
    Frenkie de Jong, Antoine Griezmann, Nelson Semedo, Clement Lenglet, Ivan Rakitic and Martin Braithwite during a training session. EPA
  • Frankie de Jong and Arthur Melo and defender Clement Lenglet during a training session at Joan Gamper Sports City. EPA
    Frankie de Jong and Arthur Melo and defender Clement Lenglet during a training session at Joan Gamper Sports City. EPA
  • Antoine Griezmann and midfielder Ivan Rakitic during a training session at Joan Gamper Sports City. EPA
    Antoine Griezmann and midfielder Ivan Rakitic during a training session at Joan Gamper Sports City. EPA
  • Leo Messi and midfielder Arturo Vidal during a training session at Joan Gamper Sports City. EPA
    Leo Messi and midfielder Arturo Vidal during a training session at Joan Gamper Sports City. EPA
  • Leo Messi during a training session at Joan Gamper Sports City in Barcelona. EPA
    Leo Messi during a training session at Joan Gamper Sports City in Barcelona. EPA
  • Barcelona head coach, Quique Setien (C), leads a training session at Joan Gamper Sports City in Barcelona. EPA
    Barcelona head coach, Quique Setien (C), leads a training session at Joan Gamper Sports City in Barcelona. EPA
  • Leo Messi and Luis Suarez during a training session at Joan Gamper Sports City. EPA
    Leo Messi and Luis Suarez during a training session at Joan Gamper Sports City. EPA

Lionel Messi 'doing perfectly' after returning to Barcelona training ahead of La Liga restart


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Barcelona captain Lionel Messi returned to training on Monday to give his team a significant boost ahead of their first La Liga match after the lockdown against Real Mallorca.

Messi has been suffering from tightness in his right thigh and had not trained fully since last Tuesday. He sat out sessions on Wednesday and Friday before working alone at Camp Nou on Saturday.

But Barcelona said in a statement their captain has re-joined "the rest of the team in the week of the return to competition in the Spanish league".

Asked if Messi would be able to face Mallorca, Barca coach Quique Setien told Movistar on Sunday night: "Messi is not the only one that has not trained and felt some discomfort.

"It's what has happened to everyone or practically everyone since they have been back.

"It is some minor tightness and we have it under control. He is doing perfectly and will not have any problem."

Setien also gave an update on the fitness of Luis Suarez, who has been given the green light by the club to return after undergoing surgery on his right knee in January.

"He is better than we expected," Setien said. "But the question is how ready he is after so long out and whether he is ready to start."

Barcelona sit two points clear of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga, which will resume on Thursday with Sevilla against Real Betis after a three-month break due to the coronavirus pandemic.

There are 11 rounds left to play, with fixtures expected to take place every day until the season ends on July 19.