Real Madrid have suffered a major setback ahead of their crucial LaLiga encounter against Barcelona after losing first-choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to a flu-like illness. The club confirmed on Sunday that the Belgian shot-stopper had pulled out of the matchday squad for the fixture scheduled at Spotify Camp Nou. The LaLiga matchday 10 fixture kicks off at 21:00 local time at Spotify Camp Nou. Real Madrid’s statement did not give a timetable for Courtois’s return. Real Madrid dealt a massive blow as key player is set to miss Barcelona clash.
Illia Voloshyn, a youngster from Real Madrid C, has been called up to take Courtois’s place in the traveling party. Andriy Lunin is expected to step into the starting lineup for what would mark the Ukrainian international’s initial appearance of the campaign.
Courtois had started all 12 of Madrid’s fixtures across LaLiga and the Champions League this season, logging 1,080 minutes on the pitch. His absence compounds selection difficulties for manager José Mourinho, who is already missing Vinícius Júnior due to a suspension, alongside long-term injury absentees Raúl Asencio, Ferland Mendy, and Rodrygo. Playing 1,080 minutes and keeping clean sheets against Málaga and Villarreal, and he would’ve gone into the Clásico after a strong Ch, courtois had started all 12 of Real Madrid’s games in LaLiga and the Champions League.
Barcelona currently top the league standings with 27 points from nine consecutive victories, having scored 39 goals and conceded nine. Meanwhile, Atlético Madrid occupy second spot with 25 points following a 1-0 win against Deportivo. Madrid sit in third place with 21 points, leaving them six points behind their arch-rivals ahead of kickoff.
While Real Madrid’s announcement omitted any timeline for Courtois’s recovery, reports indicated the 34-year-old remained behind instead of traveling with the squad. Mourinho’s available goalkeeping options for the match include Lunin, Mestre, and Voloshyn.
Recent history favors the Catalan side, who secured a 2-0 victory at Spotify Camp Nou in May to clinch the league title, alongside a 3-2 Super Cup triumph in January and an extra-time win in the 2025 Copa del Rey final. Hansi Flick has emerged victorious in six of his seven matches against Madrid as Barcelona coach. A result that sealed the league title, and beat Madrid 3-2 in the Spanish Super Cup final in January, they won the most recent Clásico 2-0 at Spotify Camp Nou on 10 May 2026. With Real Madrid’s 2-1 victory at the Bernabéu on 26 October 2025 the exception, hansi Flick has won six of his seven Clásicos as Barcelona coach. Mourinho’s side beat Sevilla 4-1 at the Bernabéu in their most recent league match.
