This Saturday’s Classic between Real Madrid and Barcelona will be marked by absences. Both teams face the most anticipated rivalry of the year with their depleted squads, especially in goal and defense, where several key names will be missing.
A few hours before the match at the Santiago Bernabéu, injuries and doubts surrounding some players worry coaches Carlo Ancelotti and Hansi Flick, who will have to reorganize their lineups.
The absences in the goal
The goal is the line most affected by casualties. Both teams will appear without their starting goalkeepers. Thibaut Courtois suffered a muscle injury in Real Madrid’s recent Champions League match, while Marc-André ter Stegen remains out of action since matchday six, after a complete tear of the patellar tendon in his right knee.
This blow forces the two teams to restructure their defensive strategy without two of the pillars that used to be guarantees between the sticks.
Defensive losses that affect both teams
On defense, the outlook is not much better. On the Real Madrid side, Dani Carvajal and David Alaba will not be available. The absence of Carvajal, key due to his solidity on the right side, represents a significant loss for Ancelotti, who will have to cover with alternative options in a very demanding sector given the speed of the Blaugrana attack.
At Barcelona, Hansi Flick will not have Ronald Araújo, out since his injury in the Copa América, nor Andreas Christensen, while Eric García is practically ruled out, given that he has not trained with the group this Friday. The absences in the center of defense, a highly demanding position in games of this magnitude, force the coach to opt for other less common options.
Doubts in the midfield and attack
In the midfield, Real Madrid is still waiting to see if Brahim Díaz will be able to take the field after his recent work with the group. As for Barcelona, Marc Bernal is still in dry dock after a long-term injury.
For the attacking front, Ancelotti will not be able to count on Rodrygo Goes, while Flick will have to manage without Ferran Torres, which leaves both teams with less dynamism in their offensive options.
Expectations and possible surprises in the lineups
Despite the injuries, both teams know that the Clásico is a crucial event in their aspirations and their coaches will try to put together the best available lineups. The latest decisions fall on the inclusion or not of Brahim and Eric García, who are rushing their options so as not to miss the most anticipated match in LaLiga.
With all this at stake, the lineups could offer surprises, where each player on the field must make the most of their opportunity and cover the losses.
This Classic promises intensity and fight, although conditioned by the reality of nursing, which now becomes one of the protagonists of the day.