Thibaut Courtois Ruled Out of El Clásico Due to Illness

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois will miss tonight’s El Clásico match against Barcelona after falling ill. The club confirmed his absence on Sunday morning, just ten hours before the scheduled 9:00 p.m. kickoff.

The Belgian international has been diagnosed with a flu-like condition, forcing him to withdraw from the squad entirely. In response to the sudden vacancy, the team has called up youth academy player Illia Voloshyn to the matchday roster.

A Depleted Real Madrid Squad

Courtois’s absence further complicates team selection for manager José Mourinho. The club is already managing a significant list of unavailable players for the high-stakes fixture.

The current injury and disciplinary report includes several key personnel:

• Vinicius Jr., who is serving the second of a four-match league suspension.
• Rodrygo, who is sidelined due to injury.
• Asencio, who is also unavailable due to injury.
• Mendy, who remains out with an injury.

The loss of a primary goalkeeper creates a tactical challenge for Mourinho as the squad prepares to face Barcelona at the Camp Nou. The team will look to rely on its remaining defensive depth to compensate for the missing starters.

Why it matters: This match is a pivotal moment in the league calendar. The unavailability of several first-team regulars, including the starting goalkeeper, forces the club to test the depth of its roster during a critical stretch of the season.