Real Madrid suffered a major setback ahead of their highly anticipated El Clásico against Barcelona after goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was initially ruled out of Sunday’s encounter because of a flu-like illness.
The Belgian goalkeeper was withdrawn from the squad at the last minute, forcing Real Madrid to call up 19-year-old Ukrainian goalkeeper Illia Voloshyn as a replacement for the crucial La Liga fixture.
Real Madrid confirmed the development in an official statement on Sunday, describing Courtois as a late absentee because of illness.
The announcement came just hours before the meeting between the Spanish giants, leaving manager José Mourinho facing an unexpected selection dilemma ahead of one of the most important matches of the domestic season.
However, subsequent reports suggested that Courtois’ condition had improved and that he could still travel to Barcelona, leaving uncertainty over his final availability for the match.
The situation represented a potentially significant blow for Madrid, given the goalkeeper’s importance to the team’s defensive stability and his experience in high-pressure encounters.
Courtois has established himself as one of the most influential players in Real Madrid’s squad since joining the club from Chelsea in 2018. His commanding presence, reflex saves and ability to perform under pressure have made him a key figure in the team’s domestic and European campaigns.
His possible absence was particularly concerning ahead of a fixture in which defensive mistakes could prove decisive.
With Courtois initially unavailable, Ukrainian goalkeeper Andriy Lunin was expected to take over between the posts.
Lunin has served as Madrid’s principal alternative to Courtois and has previously demonstrated his ability to perform when called upon. However, limited opportunities this season meant that starting against Barcelona would represent a significant test.
The 27-year-old would face the challenge of containing Barcelona’s attacking threats in an atmosphere where the slightest mistake could have major consequences.
Barcelona entered the encounter in impressive league form, having collected 27 points from their opening nine matches. Their perfect record placed them six points ahead of Real Madrid, who had accumulated 21 points and occupied third position before the match.
A victory for the Catalan side would strengthen their position at the top of the table and increase the pressure on their fierce rivals.
For Madrid, the encounter offered an opportunity to reduce the deficit and demonstrate their ability to compete for the league title despite their inconsistent start.
The visitors also faced other selection concerns. Brazilian forward Vinícius Júnior was unavailable because of a domestic suspension, further complicating Mourinho’s preparations for the contest.
His absence removed an important attacking option from Madrid’s lineup, placing additional responsibility on the remaining forwards to deliver against Barcelona’s defence.
The stakes were equally significant for Barcelona, who had the opportunity to secure a tenth consecutive league victory and extend their advantage over Madrid.
Beyond the three points, the fixture represented a major opportunity for both clubs to establish an early psychological advantage in the title race.
Courtois’ late illness added another layer of uncertainty to an already highly anticipated contest. Although his initial withdrawal raised concerns for Madrid, subsequent reports indicated that his situation could change before kickoff.
His final availability therefore remained an important detail to monitor as both teams prepared for another chapter in one of football’s most intense rivalries.
