INJURED: This is the Real Madrid infirmary situation for the Clásico

Real Madrid hopes to receive four reinforcements to its list of injured players before the match against FC Barcelona on Sunday (16:15 CEST). Xabi Alonso's team had up to six absences due to muscular problems on Wednesday in the Champions League against Juventus (1-0), but they will recover most of these absentees in matchday 10 of LaLiga 25/26.

Barring any surprises, Los Blancos, unlike Barça, will only have two injury absences on Sunday: David Alaba and Antonio Rüdiger. The Azulgrana team, however, could arrive at the Clásico with 6 injured players if Raphinha's muscular relapse is confirmed. Below, we review the current situation of the 'Merengue' injured players.

Real Madrid will recover three key players in defense against Barça

Dean Huijsen, like Dani Olmo with Barça, returned from international duty with Spain injured during the break. The centre-back missed the last two games due to an injury to the soleus muscle in his right leg, the same leg that Dani Carvajal injured in the derby against Atlético (5-2).

Both should be available on Sunday, probably as substitutes. However, Carvajal could be a surprise in the starting XI, as Fede Valverde's work on the flank does not inspire confidence, and Trent Alexander-Arnold, although he also trained with the squad on Friday and will be medically cleared, is coming off a longer absence.

The Englishman suffered a muscle injury in the biceps femoris of his left leg on September 16 and his recovery time was set at 6 to 8 weeks. Therefore, he will arrive at the Clásico very close to the limit and Xabi Alonso will not take risks with him.

Carvajal, meanwhile, is also far from his best form after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in October 2024. Even so, he has a chance of starting if he manages to train normally on Saturday.

Huijsen, similarly, could reappear in the center alongside Éder Militao. Raúl Asencio has replaced him in the last two matches (Getafe and Juventus), but the 22-year-old defender does not have the confidence of the coach from Tolosa.

Alaba and Rüdiger, ruled out against Barcelona

Another player who will once again be under Xabi Alonso's orders against Barça is Ferland Mendy. The left-back has not played since April and, like David Alaba, has an endless history of injuries. The Austrian, in fact, relapsed on Sunday against Getafe (injury to the right soleus) and will miss the Clásico.

Mendy, on the other hand, was once again called up against Juve and will be on the bench as an alternative to Álvaro Carreras. Much more prolonged will be the absence of Antonio Rüdiger. The German suffers a muscle tear in the rectus anterior of his left leg and will be KO, at least, until early December.

Finally, the other player in doubt for the match against FC Barcelona is Dani Ceballos. The player from Utrera was left out of the last two games due to an overload in the hamstring of his left leg and, although he is still training separately, he still has options to reappear on Sunday, at least as a substitute.

Thus, Xabi Alonso could opt for a 4-2-3-1 formation for the Clásico, with Courtois in goal, Carvajal and Carreras on the flanks, and the Militao-Huijsen duo back in the center. In midfield, Tchouaméni and Valverde would be the double pivot.

Bellingham would be the attacking midfielder, playing behind Mbappé, while Vinicius and Arda Güler would be the wingers. Mastantuono would go to the bench along with Rodrygo and Brahim, as would Asencio and Camavinga. 

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