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The first Real Madrid vs Barcelona clash of the is knocking on the door with both teams locked in a tight title race. Real Madrid are sitting two points clear at the summit. They will host Barcelona in second place at the Santiago Bernabeu in a contest that could influence the early La Liga standings.
Despite their strong form, Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid have been hit by defensive setbacks. Meanwhile, Hansi Flick’s Barcelona are facing a growing injury list that threatens to disrupt their attacking balance ahead of the season’s most anticipated fixture – the coveted El Clasico.
Real Madrid Injuries
David Alaba
The Austrian centre-back will be sidelined for some more time. He sustained a calf injury during Madrid’s recent win over Getafe. The defender’s expected to return early next month against Valencia. But his absence now leaves Alonso short of experience at the back.
Antonio Rudiger
The German defender remains out with a persistent muscular issue that he suffered during September’s international break. His recovery period is projected to take several more weeks. His absence now deprives Madrid of a commanding presence in central defence.
Players Expected to be Back for El Clasico
Dean Huijsen, Dani Ceballos, Dani Carvajal, and Trent Alexander-Arnold – all four players have resumed training. However, they still face late assessments before kick-off. Alexander-Arnold has recovered from a hamstring strain and could feature from the bench.
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Meanwhile Carvajal and Huijsen have returned from minor muscle problems. Dani Ceballos has also joined full sessions but may not be risked from the start. If included, they could provide some much-needed rotation options for Alonso’s squad.
Barcelona Injuries
Joan Garcia
The summer signing who became the first-choice goalkeeper, remains unavailable after a knee surgery. He is not expected to return before late November. His absence continues to limit Barcelona’s options in goal, with Wojciech Szczesny filling the gap for him.
Robert Lewandowski
The Polish striker’s hamstring injury is expected to keep him out until mid-November. His absence significantly reduces Barcelona’s attacking threat. It has forced Flick to rely on younger forwards to lead the line in the past as well.
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Raphinha
The Brazilian winger is fighting to recover from a hamstring injury that’s kept him out for several weeks. He was expected to be back for this match. However, recent reports suggest it will take him longer to recover. This has left the Catalans uncertain about their attacking width.
Other Barca Players Set to Miss Real Madrid vs Barcelona
Barcelona’s injury woes deepen further as Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, Gavi, and Dani Olmo remain unavailable. Ter Stegen is still recovering from a serious back surgery, Gavi faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines following knee surgery. Meanwhile, Dani Olmo continues rehabilitation from a calf issue that he sustained during international duty. None of them are expected to feature on Sunday, leaving Flick with limited flexibility across key areas throughout the pitch.
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Football writer at The Playoffs. I’ve been obsessed with the beautiful game since I was a kid.. Eventually, I realized I could combine my passion for writing with my love for football, and I’ve never looked back. My favorite part of the job is everything—when you’re doing what you love, even a late-night deadline feels like extra time in a thrilling cup final. Lastly, Lionel Messi is the GOAT.
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