Real Madrid have announced, in a new twist, that goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois will not be able to play in tonight's Clasico against Barcelona. The decision was made due to a flu that prevents the Belgian from being in adequate shape for the match, which represents the tenth matchday of the La Liga.
To replace him, coach José Mourinho opted for Andriy Lunin, a Ukrainian goalkeeper who has not yet played an official match since May 2026 against Espanyol. Lunin will be Madrid's first choice for this derby, while Real Madrid C goalkeeper Illia Voloshyn has been included in the squad in place of Courtois. It is the third time that the club's main goalkeeper has missed a match due to flu or influenza gastroenteritis, following similar episodes last season and in 2023. However, it is the first time that Courtois will have to miss a match this season, having already played the first nine league days.
The goalkeeper change comes at a crucial moment for Real, who are fighting for the top of the LaLiga table. The Clasico against Barcelona is always a very important match, and the disappearance of Courtois puts the club's defense in difficulty. Mourinho will therefore have to manage the situation with plan B, trying to maintain the defensive order and make the most of the possibilities offered by the team.
The match will take place at the Spotify Camp Nou and represents a decisive challenge for both clubs. Real Madrid will have to rely on Lunin and the rest of the defense to try to contain Barcelona's threats and achieve a positive result. The match will be followed carefully by fans and analysts, who will monitor the impact of the substitution on Real's performance.