Barcelona's Dani Alves Makes Partial Return to Training Ahead of Getafe Match

A day after missing training because of a leg injury, Barcelona defender Dani Alves was able to participate in portions of the first-team session on Monday.

The Brazilian was injured during the second half of a Saturday win against Real Zaragoza. Subsequent medical tests revealed a pulled muscle in his right thigh.

On Sunday, a report on Barcelona's official website indicated Alves as "doubtful" for Tuesday's match against Getafe.

The injury to the left-back threatened to further stretch a defense that will already take the field without Gerard Pique, who is nursing a leg problem of his own.

But on Monday afternoon, the Brazilian came out for practice. An update to the team's website said that Alves "continues to nurse a sore left thigh muscle but was able to work alongside his team-mates for part of Monday’s training session."

With Pique out and Alves still doubtful, Pep Guardiola included three defenders from Barcelona's reserves in the first-team training on Tuesday. Marc Muniesa, Martin Montoya and Marc Bartra Aregall could play roles against Getafe for Barca's increasingly thin defensive line.

Montoya is the player who came off the bench to fill in for Alves after his injury against Zaragoza.

Guardiola will wait until after Tuesday's training session before making a final determination on including Alves.