Pedri and Torres return as Barca train ahead of 'Desert Clasico' - in pictures

Barcelona play great rivals Real Madrid in Riyadh for a place in the Spanish Super Cup final

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  Barcelona's Pedri, right, Ansu Fati, left, and new signing Ferran Torres during a training session in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Barca play Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final on January 12. AP Photo

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  Barcelona's Jordi Alba controls the ball in front Barcelona's head coach Xavi. AP Photo

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  Barcelona players train during a training session in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. AP Photo

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  Barcelona's Ferran Torres. AP Photo

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  Barcelona's head coach Xavi kicks the ball. AP Photo

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  Barcelona's head coach Xavi. AP Photo

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  Barcelona's Ansu Fati runs during a training session in Riyadh. AP Photo

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  Barcelona's Ferran Torres head controls the ball. AP Photo

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  Barcelona's Dani Alves, right, Luuk de Jong, centre, and Memphis Depay. AP Photo

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  Barcelona players welcome new signing Ferran Torres, left, during a training session in Riyadh. AP Photo

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  Barcelona players listen to instructions from head coach Xavi. AP Photo

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  Barcelona's Ferran Torres, left, and Barcelona's Pedri listen to Barcelona's head coach Xavi Hernandez during a training session in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022. Barcelona will play the Spanish Super Cup semifinal soccer match against Real Madrid at King Fahd stadium in Riyadh tomorrow. (AP Photo / Hassan Ammar)

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  Barcelona's Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba, right, and Clement Lenglet share a joke. AP Photo

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  Barcelona's Gerard Pique warms up during a training session in Riyadh. AP Photo

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  Barcelona's Gerard Pique gestures. AP Photo

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  Barcelona's Memphis Depay warms up during a training session. AP Photo

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  Barcelona's Samuel Umtiti, left, Clement Lenglet, centre, and Ousmane Dembele warm up. AP Photo

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  Barcelona's Dani Alves warms up during a training session in Riyadh. AP Photo

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  Barcelona's Samuel Umtiti, left, and Clement Lenglet warm up. AP Photo

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  Barcelona's Ousmane Dembele, right, and Samuel Umtiti. AP Photo

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  Barcelona players train during a training session in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia ahead of the 'Desert Clasico' against Real Madrid in Riyadh. AP Photo

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  Barcelona's Dutch forward Memphis Depay stretches. AFP

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  Barcelona players attend a training session at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium in the Saudi city of Riyadh on January 11, 2022. AFP

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  Barcelona players attend a training session. AFP

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  Barcelona goalkeepers are put through their paces. AFP

Barcelona and Real Madrid meet in a match dubbed the 'Desert Clasico' as they compete for a place in the final of the Spanish Super Cup in Riyadh on Wednesday.

The competition returns to Saudi Arabia after being played in Spain last year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Barcelona are expected to be boosted by the returns of Pedri and Ferran Torres, who rejoined the squad in time for the match after testing positive for the coronavirus.

It is the second 'clasico' of the season after Real Madrid secured a 2-1 win at Camp Nou in October.

The other semi-final will be played Thursday between defending Spanish league champions Atletico Madrid and Copa del Rey runners-up Athletic Bilbao.

Barcelona qualified as the Copa del Rey winners.

Real Madrid are five points clear at the top of La Liga on 49 points. Barca languish in sixth place, 17 points behind their great rivals.