Espanyol squad hit by vomiting, diarrhoea

Espanyol's defender Alvaro Gonzalez (L) celebrates a goal next to teammate Espanyol's midfielder Victor Sanchez during the Spanish league football match RCD Espanyol vs Valencia CF at the Power8 stadium in Cornella de Llobregat on September 22, 2015.
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Eight Espanyol players are sent home from training after coming down with gastroenteritis.

Espanyol have been forced to send eight senior players home from training after gastroenteritis spread throughout the squad.

Left-back Victor Alvarez was first to experience symptoms of the illness, which include vomiting and diarrhoea, on Monday but by this morning it had also affected Victor Sanchez, Burgui, Asensio, Hernan Perez Moreno, Gerard Abraham and Alvaro Gonzalez.

Medical staff ordered all of the players to return home and rest ahead of Thursday night's encounter with Real Betis at the Estadi Cornella-El Prat.

A statement on Espanyol's website confirmed: "We will have to wait and see how they react, 48 hours from the start of the match against Betis on Thursday."

Following a winless run of eight games, the Barcelona side have notched up back-to-back victories to lift them to 13th in La Liga.

Lucas Leiva of Liverpool in action during the Barclays Premier League match between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park on October 4, 2015 in Liverpool, England.
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona362745104297585
2Atletico MadridAtletico36274560164485
3Real Madrid362664105327384
4Villarreal361810844311364
5Athletic Bilbao361771255441158
6Celta Vigo36169115057-757
7Sevilla361410124943652
8Malaga361112133433145
9Valencia361111144444044
10Las PalmasLas Palmas36127174449-543
11Real Sociedad36119164247-542
12EibarEibar36119164656-1042
13Real Betis361011153150-1941
14Espanyol36117183667-3140
15Deportivo La CorunaDeportivo36718114359-1639
16Granada3699184265-2336
17Rayo Vallecano36811174870-2235
18Getafe3698193564-2935
19Sporting GijonSporting Gijon3698193761-2435
20Levante3678213466-3229