Barcelona pair Alexis Sanchez and Gerard Pique have returned to training after recovering from injury knocks, the European champions said yesterday.

Chilean striker Sanchez had suffered a muscle tear on his right thigh at the start of September but took part yesterday in “some of the squad’s training session”, according to the Primera Liga side.

Pique also returned to training having recovered from a right thigh strain which he suffered mid-October in a 3-0 win over Racing Santander.

Pique’s fellow central defender Carles Puyol has also shaken off a groin problem which sidelined the Spanish international from Barca’s last two matches.

The trio’s return should help cushion the loss of forward Pedro Rodriguez, who has been ruled out for between two and three weeks with an ankle injury.

The Spanish international sustained the injury during Barca’s 1-0 league win at promoted Gra-nada on Tuesday evening.

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