Courtois, last-minute absence for the Clásico

Real Madrid

Real Madrid has suffered a major setback. The white club announced this Sunday that Courtois will be out for tonight's Clásico against Barcelona at Spotify Camp Nou.

The Belgian will not be part of the match due to a flu-like illness that prevents him from being in optimal condition to compete in the first Clásico of this season, corresponding to the tenth matchday of LaLiga.

Real Madrid will therefore have to change goalkeepers, and it will be Andriy Lunin who takes to the pitch at the blaugrana stadium to play the match. Illia Voloshyn, the Ukrainian goalkeeper for Real Madrid C, comes into the squad following Courtois's absence.

This setback is not new. With today's, it will be the third match he has missed due to flu or flu-related gastroenteritis. The same thing happened to him last season, in November, and once again in 2023. In 2019 he missed another one with stomach problems. In total he has missed 108 matches through injury, serious or minor like tonight's, since he signed for Real Madrid in 2018.

But it will be the first match Courtois will miss this season since he had played in the first nine league rounds. His absence is a major setback for Mourinho's team in a very important match if they want to close in on Barça at the top of the table

• Barcelona
• Real Madrid
• LaLiga
• El Clásico
• Thibaut Courtois