It wouldn’t be a Clasico if there wasn’t any pre-match injury drama.
Fortunately for Real Madrid, much of the discourse has taken place on the opposite side of the divide. While the Catalan media provide relentless updates regarding the statuses of some of Xavi’s injured stars who hope to be fit for Saturday, an air of serenity exudes over the capital ahead of the big game.
That’s not to say Madrid don’t have any injury issues of their own, but Carlo Ancelotti has no fresh concerns ahead of their trip to Barca.
Here’s how Madrid look on the injury front for El Clasico.
Thibaut Courtois (knee)
Disaster struck for Madrid in pre-season when superstar goalkeeper Courtois tore his ACL in training.
The Belgian has been a brick wall between the sticks in recent years, and his injury forced the club to bring in Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea as emergency cover.
Courtois underwent surgery days after suffering the tear in August and is expected to miss the entire 2023/24 season.
Eder Militao (knee)
Militao caught the ACL bug during Madrid’s opening game of the 2023/24 season. The Brazilian defender hyperextended his knee early in the second half against Athletic Club which resulted in an ACL rupture.
As a result, like Courtois, it’s unlikely that Militao will feature again for Los Blancos this season, but some have suggested he might recover in time for the final few games.
Dani Ceballos (muscle)
Ceballos missed the start of the 2023/24 season after sustaining a pretty serious thigh injury in July.
The Spaniard, formerly of Arsenal on a two-year loan deal in north London, returned to the fold before the October international break, making four appearances off the bench but he suffered a fresh setback which has kept him out of Madrid’s last two games.
Ceballos is said to be nursing a muscle injury which will keep him out of the Clasico. However, the issue is only believed to be minor and there’s a chance he returns against Rayo Vallecano on 5 November.
Arda Guler (thigh)
Guler joined the club to much fanfare in the summer after rapidly emerging as one of Europe’s brightest creative talents.
However, the start to his Real Madrid career has been frustrating to say the least. Guler’s yet to feature for Los Blancos after suffering two injury setbacks.
The playmaker underwent minor knee surgery in the summer and missed the start of the 2023/24 season. But when he was closing in on a return, Guler picked up a thigh injury which sidelined him once again. While the Turkish international is training and believed to be close to making his first apperance for the club, it’s likely that it won’t arrive in Saturday’s Clasico.
Bellingham was seemingly carrying a knock when he was forced off against Braga in midweek, but Ancelotti was quick to reassure supporters regarding the Englishman’s Clasico status.
“He is ok. His adductors are a bit charged because the pitch was a bit soft. But nothing special. He will recover,” the Italian said after Tuesday’s win.
Thus, there’s never been any serious doubt over whether Bellingham will play, and the midfielder himself allayed any injury fears on Thursday: “I will be in the Clasico against FC Barcelona,” he emphatically told reporters.
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