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

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

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

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

Barcelona's Ferran Torres. AP Photo

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

Barcelona's head coach Xavi. AP Photo

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

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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

Barcelona's Gerard Pique gestures. AP Photo

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

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

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

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

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

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

Barcelona's Dutch forward Memphis Depay stretches. AFP

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

Barcelona players attend a training session. AFP

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.