When the starting lineups were announced for Barcelona in its match against Levante, everyone was pleasantly surprised to see Eric Abidal making his first start in well over a year. But there was a bit of apprehension over how well he would actually play.
The French hero showed that he has not missed a step as he put in one of the best defensive performances of the year for the Barcelona back line.
The two-time cancer-beating defender aided in covering the space afforded by Adriano and was a vocal leader alongside Martin Montoya, who is still learning how to truly play on the left side of defense.
It is actually safe to say that Eric Abidal was the Barcelona defense on the night. Just check out some of his stats.
No question, Abidal was incredible in his return to the Barcelona starting. But it is the story of how he got there that stands out above all else.
After spending over a year recovering from a liver transplant and beating cancer twice, no one really knew if Abidal would ever start or play a significant role again.
But his return to the starting XI has showed just how important it is to have hope and determination to never give up. Had Abidal not played as well as he did, his night would have still been incredible.
However, to come back from what he faced and put in a defensive master class leaves no question: Eric Abidal was Barcelona's man of the match, and his story will fuel the Catalan throughout the rest of the season.
Via: [Live Football] Xuan Thanh Sài Gòn - Tampines Rovers FC - AFC Cup
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