La Liga returns amid spike in COVID-19 cases

Spanish soccer returns to action this weekend after the winter break amid a spike in COVID-19 cases amongst players and staff.

By Thursday more than 90 positive cases were confirmed by teams and many players will miss the next round of La Liga games and possibly next week’s Spanish Cup round of 32 matches.

Among them are Real Madrid striker Vinicius Junior and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, Atletico Madrid forwards Joao Felix and Antoine Griezmann plus Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele, midfielder Gavi and defender Jordi Alba.

Atleti coach Diego Simeone and captain Koke are also among the five new cases club announced on Thursday.

They will miss Sunday’s clash at home to in-form Rayo Vallecano, who are fourth in standings, one point ahead of Atletico and in the Champions League qualifying zone.

That is bad news for the champions as Simeone is facing increased pressure having lost four successive league matches for the first time since the Argentine took charge in 2011. His role has come under scrutiny from supporters and the media.

Barcelona also have problems ahead of Sunday's trip to Real Mallorca with 10 players on their COVID-19 list. Midfielder Philippe Coutinho, defender Sergino Dest and winger Ez Abde are the latest to test positive, the club said on Thursday.

The Catalans had already been hit by a number of COVID cases including Ousmane Dembele, Samuel Umtiti, Gavi, Clement Lenglet, Dani Alves, Jordi Alba and Alejandro Balde.

Barca, who last played in the league in a 1-1 draw at Sevilla on Dec. 21, are seventh on 28 points from 18 games.

It was a much-improved Barcelona after a month under the tutelage of new manager Xavi Hernandez who managed a point against second-placed Sevilla, who have 38, eight points adrift of leaders Real Madrid but with a game in hand.

Sevilla will play at Cadiz on Monday with three positive cases confirmed, while Real make the short drive to Madrid's suburbs to face Getafe on Sunday with four new COVID-19 cases.

Federico Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga returned positive tests on Wednesday along with Vinicius Jr and Courtois.

Luka Modric, Rodrygo, Marco Asensio, Gareth Bale, Marcelo, Andriy Lunin, Isco and David Alaba have also tested positive this month.

Atletico's Simeone tests COVID positive, Barca have more cases

Atletico Madrid have recorded five COVID-19 positives, including manager Diego Simeone, while Barcelona had three more cases among their players on Thursday, the LaLiga clubs said.

Atleti said Simeone, captain Koke, midfielder Hector Herrera plus forwards Antoine Griezmann and Joao Felix all tested positive for the coronavirus.

"All of them are asymptomatic and isolating at their respective homes, in strict compliance with the health authorities' guidelines," Atletico said in a statement.

Atleti, fifth in LaLiga on 29 points after 18 games, host Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.

Barcelona said midfielder Philippe Coutinho, defender Sergino Dest and winger Ez Abde were the latest players to return positive tests.

The Catalans had already been hit by a number of COVID-19 cases in their squad, with Ousmane Dembele, Samuel Umtiti and Gavi set to miss Sunday's LaLiga trip to Real Mallorca after testing positive.

Clement Lenglet, Dani Alves, Jordi Alba and Alejandro Balde also returned positive tests this week.

"Footballers Sergino Dest, Coutinho and Ez Abde have tested positive for COVID-19. The players are in good health and self-isolating at home. The club has reported the cases to the relevant authorities," Barcelona said in a statement.

Barca, who last played in the league in a 1-1 draw at Sevilla on Dec. 21, are seventh on 28 points from 18 games.

Real Madrid are also dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak with Serbia forward Luka Jovic testing positive on Thursday, a day after Thibaut Courtois, Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga, Vinicius Jr returned positive tests.

Luka Modric, Rodrygo, Marco Asensio, Gareth Bale, Marcelo, Andriy Lunin, Isco and David Alaba also tested positive earlier this month.

Spain's 14-day infection rate hit a new record of 1,360 cases per 100,000 people on Tuesday, rising from 1,206 cases the previous day and marking a five-fold increase since the beginning of December.