Spanish giants Barcelona have, late on Monday, confirmed a timely pair of boosts on the personnel front ahead of the club’s upcoming showdown with Real Madrid.

Clasico approaches

Xavi Hernandez’s troops are of course set to return to action this coming Wednesday.

After seeing an uptick in form since the turn of the year brought to a halt by Granada over the weekend, the Blaugrana will turn their attentions towards the Spanish Super Cup, in a trip to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

A showdown with the aforementioned Real Madrid lies in wait, in the latest edition of one of world football’s greatest rivalries – El Clasico.

Debut incoming? Barcelona handed massive double boost ahead of Real Madrid showdown

BARCELONA, SPAIN – OCTOBER 24: Frenkie De Jong of FC Barcelona competes for the ball with Luka Modric of Real Madrid CF during the LaLiga Santander match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF at Camp Nou on October 24, 2021 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)

It is Carlo Ancelotti’s Real who will head into proceedings as heavy favourites to book their spot in the Supercopa showpiece, having kept alive their charge towards the La Liga title courtesy of an impressive 4-1 downing of Valencia on Saturday.

Torres debut on the cards?

As such, it goes without saying that Xavi, faced with a remarkable stretch of bad luck on the personnel front since his return to Catalunya, will no doubt be hopeful of having as many of his key performers as possible fit and available to feature from the off in midweek.

And, as alluded to above, late on Monday, some timely, and altogether rare positive news on the personnel front has come the way of the Blaugrana boss.

Just yesterday, it was widely reported in the Spanish press that both Pedri and Ferran Torres were set to sit out Wednesday’s action in Riyadh.

This came amid the suggestion that the two Spanish internationals had returned fresh positive tests for Covid-19.

But, as confirmed by none other than Barca themselves this evening, ensuing testing has unveiled the fact that both are now negative for the virus, and will as a result be permitted to join their teammates in Saudi Arabia.

A debut appearance in the colours of the Catalans could therefore well be on the cards for January arrival Torres in the Clasico.

 

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