Thibaut Courtois ruled out of Real Madrid’s El Clasico with flu
Thibaut Courtois misses Real Madrid’s El Clasico against Barcelona with flu, leaving Andriy Lunin to start in goal at Camp Nou.
Courtois is a late withdrawal due to a bout of flu for tonight's match between Real Madrid and Barcelona, corresponding to matchday 10 in the league.
— Real Madrid
Jose Mourinho will hand Andriy Lunin a place in goal at Camp Nou. Courtois is not fit enough to sit on the bench, so Real Madrid C goalkeeper Illia Voloshyin has been called up to complete the matchday squad.
The fixture will be Lunin’s first appearance of the 2026-27 campaign. He last played during a spell from March to early May last season, when he deputised for Courtois as the Belgian recovered from a right quadriceps tear. Lunin started nine of his 12 appearances that season, including the Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich.
Sunday’s match will be the 27-year-old’s fifth Clasico. Real Madrid have won three and lost one with Lunin in goal. His record includes the 2024 Spanish Super Cup triumph, when Courtois was out with a serious knee injury. Lunin’s only defeat came in a 4-0 league loss to Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu in October 2024.
