It is here! The first El Clasico of the season, as Real Madrid prepares to host FC Barcelona on Saturday night. And they’ll do so with two new injury concerns, as Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and forward Rodrygo have both been ruled out of the heated rivalry clash.
The 5-2 win over Borussia Dortmund came at a massive cost, as both Courtois and Rodrygo suffered muscular injuries that will sideline them this weekend.
El Clasico FYIs
Kickoff: Sat Oct. 26, 9PM, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain
FC Barcelona Preview Material: Team News Starting XI Prediction
Real Madrid Preview Material: Team News Starting XI Prediction
FC Barcelona 29% Draw 24% Real Madrid 47%
La Liga Standing, Form: FC Barcelona 1st, 27 pts WWLWW Real Madrid 2nd, 24 pts, WWDWW
Real Madrid Team News
Courtois suffered a strain to his left leg, in the groin/adductor area. Andriy Lunin could be getting more playing time in the upcoming weeks.
As for Rodrygo, he’ll undergo scans tomorrow in hopes that he be could be fit for next weekend’s clash against Valencia, but El Clasico isn’t happening for him.
Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He currently contributes to USA Today’s NFL Wires Network, the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America and RG.org. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. His work has been featured in numerous outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, the Washington Post and ESPN. You can follow him on Linked In and Twitter.