Real Madrid dealt major blow for El Clasico as Thibaut Courtois ruled out with flu

Real Madrid have suffered a late blow ahead of El Clasico, with Thibaut Courtois ruled out due to flu. Barcelona will also miss Dani Olmo, who faces around four weeks out with an adductor injury, as Jose Mourinho prepares for his return to the rivalry.Thibaut Courtois will miss El Clasico. (Image: Reuters)New Delhi,Oct 25, 2026 17:06 ISTReal Madrid have suffered a late setback ahead of Sunday's El Clasico against Barcelona, with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois ruled out of the La Liga clash due to flu. Barcelona will also be without midfielder Dani Olmo, who is expected to spend around a month on the sidelines with an adductor injury.Real Madrid confirmed Courtois' withdrawal shortly before the meeting between the Spanish giants, with Illia Voloshyn called up to the squad as his replacement."Courtois is a late withdrawal from tonight's La Liga match between Real Madrid and Barcelona due to the flu. Illia Voloshyn has been called up to the squad in his place," the club said in a statement.The Belgian goalkeeper's absence is a significant concern for Real Madrid ahead of one of the most important fixtures of their season. With the pressure mounting on the side, they will need to adjust their plans for a contest that could have major implications for the La Liga title race. Barcelona, meanwhile, will be without Olmo after the Spain international suffered a left adductor injury during Tuesday's 4-2 Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.Olmo was forced off in the 27th minute following a collision with PSG midfielder Vitinha and was replaced by Fermin Lopez. Subsequent tests confirmed the extent of the injury, with Barcelona estimating that the midfielder will be unavailable for around four weeks. "Tests carried out confirm that Dani Olmo is suffering from an injury to his left adductor muscle. The player is expected to be out for around a month," Barcelona said.Olmo's absence is another setback for manager Hansi Flick as Barcelona prepare to host their fiercest rivals at Camp Nou on Sunday night.TITLE RACE IN FOCUSThe stakes are high for both sides heading into the latest edition of Spanish football's biggest rivalry. Barcelona could extend their lead over Real Madrid to nine points with a victory, putting further pressure on their rivals in the title race.A Real Madrid win, however, would cut the gap to three points and provide a major confidence boost for a team looking to reverse its recent fortunes against Barcelona. Real have lost six of their last seven Clasico encounters, making Sunday's fixture an opportunity to change the narrative.The contest will also mark the return of Jose Mourinho to the Clasico spotlight. The Portuguese manager, 63, has extensive experience of the rivalry, having faced Barcelona 27 times and managed Real Madrid in 17 Clasicos during his first spell at the club.Mourinho was appointed by Real Madrid president Florentino Perez in 2010 to challenge the Barcelona side led by Pep Guardiola. His tenure coincided with some of the most fiercely contested meetings between the two clubs in the modern era.Although Mourinho won just one of his first 10 Clasicos, he finished his first spell with an unbeaten run of five matches against Barcelona, recording three victories during that stretch.His return offers Real Madrid an opportunity to rediscover a winning formula against their rivals. The club have endured an uneven start to their La Liga campaign, suffering two defeats in their opening nine matches, while their performances have drawn frequent whistles from their own supporters.Sunday's encounter will also feature a fresh crop of players, with as many as 14 new faces potentially making their Clasico debuts. Both clubs made six signings during the close season, while Barcelona have also promoted two academy players to their senior squad.With Courtois unavailable, Olmo missing for Barcelona and Mourinho back at the centre of the rivalry, the latest Clasico carries significant consequences for both teams as the battle for the La Liga title intensifies.- Ends