Real Madrid vs Barcelona: Injury Updates, Team News, and How to Watch El Clasico

The highly anticipated El Clasico match between Real Madrid and Barcelona is set to take place on Saturday, October 26, at the Santiago Bernabeu. This encounter marks the first Clasico of the season and is expected to be a thrilling showdown between La Liga‘s top two teams.

Real Madrid has been dealt a significant double injury blow ahead of the match. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has been ruled out for up to three weeks with an adductor injury in his left leg, and forward Rodrygo will miss the game due to a hamstring injury sustained during the 5-2 comeback win over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.

In the absence of Courtois, Andriy Lunin will deputise as the goalkeeper, a role he has filled successfully in previous matches against Barcelona. Jude Bellingham is likely to be moved into a more advanced role to replace Rodrygo, with Aurelien Tchouameni or Eduardo Camavinga potentially lining up in midfield. Kylian Mbappe, who joined Real Madrid this summer, is set for his El Clasico debut and will be part of the front three alongside Vinicius Jr.

Barcelona, meanwhile, will be without long-term absentees Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Andreas Christensen, and Ronald Araujo. However, they have welcomed back star midfielder Gavi, who recently returned from a year-long absence due to an ACL injury. Gavi featured in Barcelona’s 5-1 win against Sevilla on Sunday.

The match will be broadcast live on Premier Sports in the UK, with the game kicking off at 8pm BST. In the United States, the match will be available to stream on ESPN+.

Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal, who has been making waves with his performances, admitted to having nerves before his first Clasico appearance last season but is now looking forward to leaving his mark on the upcoming match. Yamal leads La Liga in attempted take-ons this season and is expected to be a key player for Barcelona.