Eden Hazard returns, Isco looks sharp as Real Madrid take part in group training - video

Zinedine Zidane's side are two points behind leaders and rivals Barcelona in La Liga standings

Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos, right, and Sergio Busquets of Barcelona challenge for a header during the clasico on February 3, 2020. Real won the match 2-0 at the Bernabeu. Reuters

Real Madrid fans during the match. AFP

Barcelona's Lionel Messi reacts after fouling Real Madrid defender Marcelo. EPA

Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior gives his side the lead. EPA

Barcelona's Lionel Messi reacts after fouling Real Madrid defender Marcelo. Reuters

Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos (L) in action against Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann. EPA

Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Barcelona. AFP

Lionel Messi reacts after Barcelona go 1-0 down to Real Madrid. EPA

Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior dives over Barcelona's German goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen. AFP

Real Madrid's Spanish defender Sergio Ramos celebrates with fans. AFP

Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior celebrates. AFP

Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior celebrates. AFP

Barcelona's Leo Messi in action against Real Madrid's Marcelo (L) and Raphael Varane (R). EPA

Real Madrid's Dominican forward Mariano Diaz scores his team's second goal. AFP

Real Madrid's Dominican forward Mariano Diaz scores his team's second goal. EPA

Real Madrid's Mariano Diaz celebrates scoring their second goal with Dani Carvajal. Reuters

Barcelona's Argentine forward Lionel Messi reacts as Real Madrid's Spanish defender Sergio Ramos celebrates his team's second goal. AFP

Real Madrid's Mariano Diaz (C) celebrates. EPA

Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos celebrates their second goal. Reuters

Barcelona's Argentine forward Lionel Messi leaves the pitch at the end of the match. AFP

Real Madrid were in hot pursuit of rivals Barcelona before the Spanish league season was suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Sat two points behind the leaders and defending champions with 11 La Liga games to play, Madrid defeated Barca 2-0 in the penultimate match before the season was halted - the best pictures of which are in the photo gallery above - and are aiming to win their first league title since 2017.

Those hopes would be dashed if the season was cancelled as Spanish football authorities have confirmed that the current standings would be deemed final if the campaign could not be finished due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

However, Real Madrid and the rest of Spain's top two division clubs have been handed a significant boost that the season - provisionally scheduled to resume on June 12 - will be completed after players returned to training amid stringent health and safety measures.

And based on Real Madrid's social media accounts, the squad is hard at work this week after the Spanish government allowed the resumption of group training sessions, having previously limited players to individual programmes.

One player Real Madrid and their fans will be happy to see back at full training is Eden Hazard, whose debut season at the Bernabeu since arriving for €100 million (Dh402m) from Chelsea has been one of injury setbacks and frustration.

Meanwhile, Spanish midfielder Isco already looks sharp - if the drill in the video below is anything to go by.

The goalkeepers - Thibaut Courtois, Alphonse Areola, and Diego Altube Suarez - have also been grinding, working on their reflexes and agility as they prepare for competitive action to restart.

Rivals Barcelona and Atletico Madrid have also returned to group training sessions as clubs await the final approval to resume the season.