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Eric Abidal delighted fans no less than Barcelona's qualification for the UEFA Champions League final.
Before the second leg of the semi-final match against Real Madrid, the sports world was shocked by unexpected news: the French national team player, who had recently undergone surgery to remove a liver tumor, and doctors predicted that he would not appear on the field this season, was included in the match squad.
The match against Real ended in a favorable 1-1 draw for Barça, and at the end of it, Josep Guardiola made a substitution - instead of team captain Carles Puyol, it was Abidal who entered the field.
The defender was welcomed with thunderous ovations from the Camp Nou stands, and although the footballer spent only a few minutes on the field, his teammates paid the most attention to him. After the final whistle, Barcelona players immediately picked up the Frenchman and began tossing him in the air.
After the match, Abidal did not hide his emotions: "I was overwhelmed with incredible feelings. Of course, I understand that the most important thing is that Barcelona made it to the final, but I will never forget this day. I will never forget the moment I returned to the field, I will never forget the people who supported me, and the club that always backed me. This is my team."
