Éric Abidal will play next match

Following training this morning, Éric Abidal received the wonderful news that he is in good enough condition to play for the first team in what remains of the current season. The French defender underwent a liver transplant on April 10, 2012.

It has been a long road to recovery for Abidal ever since. In early October, he went with club physio Emili Ricart to spend several days in the Catalan mountains at Vall d’Aran, where he started following a specific training programme. Two months later, on December 19, he was able to train with the rest of the squad.

Abidal has not played for the first team since February 26, 2012 away to Atlético Madrid, when FCB won 2-1.