Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has finalized Jules Koundé’s status for El Clásico, confirming the French defender will miss the match due to injury, delivering a fresh blow to his defensive options ahead of facing Real Madrid.
The announcement came during the pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday evening’s clash at Spotify Camp Nou, part of La Liga’s tenth round, following ongoing efforts to prepare the player over recent days.
Flick said: “Jules will not play tomorrow; we don’t want to take any risks with him, and we have to accept that,” ending hopes of the Frenchman catching the match after continuing to work away from group training.
Koundé is suffering from a sprained left ankle sustained during last week’s match against Real Betis, which had already kept him out of the Champions League tie against Paris Saint-Germain, before it was confirmed that he would not recover in time for El Clásico.
This brings Barcelona’s total absences to five players: Koundé, Eric García, Andreas Christensen, Dani Olmo, and Roony Bardghji. Eric suffers from a muscle injury in his right thigh requiring three to four weeks out, while Olmo injured his left adductor against Paris and needs about a month to recover.
These absences place Xavi Espart at the forefront of options to replace Koundé at right-back, following his impressive performance against Paris. Flick commented on him: “A great player, but he still has room for improvement,” while the readiness of Pau Cubarsí, Gerard Martín, and João Cancelo becomes increasingly crucial to cover the defensive shortage.
Conversely, Real Madrid will be without Vinícius Júnior due to suspension, as he serves the second match of his four-game ban against Barcelona, alongside injured players Rodrygo and Raúl Asencio. The former continues his recovery from a knee injury, while the latter undergoes rehabilitation following surgery for a stress fracture in his right tibia.
Reports also list Ferland Mendy among the expected absentees despite his return to group training, as he has yet to feature in any matchday squad, whereas Éder Militão is available once again after returning against Sevilla and is not considered among current absences.
Barcelona’s losses appear numerically heavier, particularly with the simultaneous absence of three defenders, while Real Madrid suffers an attacking blow with the absences of Vinícius and Rodrygo, presenting Flick and Mourinho with a test in utilizing squad depth during a match Barça enters six points ahead of their rivals.
