Messi trains alone in empty Nou Camp as Barcelona prepare for La Liga restart

Leo Messi trained by himself on Saturday doing specific work in an empty Camp Nou as La Liga leaders Barcelona continued their preparation ahead of the restart of the competition after the coronavirus lockdown.

Messi is suffering from "a minor right quadriceps injury", but according to the club should be able to start training with his team-mates in a few days.

The Argentinian star has so far scored 24 goals in 31 appearances in all competitions.

Messi missed nearly two months at the beginning of the season after hurting a calf muscle in the first preseason training. He is the league leading scorer with 19 goals, five more than Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema. Messi also has the most assists, with 12.

Barcelona said forward Ansu Fati also trained individually on Friday, though it did not say why.

Defender Clément Lenglet is set to miss the trip to Mallorca because of an accumulation of yellow cards. But striker Luis Suárez, who underwent right knee surgery in January and was expected to miss the rest of the season before the pandemic struck, has been practicing normally and is expected to be back in action in Mallorca.

Ousmane Dembelé is not likely to return as he continues to recover from a serious hamstring problem.

Barcelona has a two-point lead over Real Madrid with 11 rounds remaining.

Madrid resumes on June 14 against Eibar at Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium in the club’s training center as the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium continues to undergo renovation work.

The league’s first game will be the Seville derby between Sevilla and Real Betis on Thursday.