Jules Koundé’s chances of making the El Clásico against Real Madrid have faded after his continued absence from Barcelona’s group training, leaving Hansi Flick facing the potential loss of a crucial defensive option.
According to the newspaper Sport, the French international did not participate with his teammates in Friday’s training session, two days ahead of the anticipated clash at the Camp Nou, despite stepping onto the pitch to continue his rehabilitation program.
Koundé is recovering from a left ankle sprain sustained during the 5-2 victory over Real Betis last Saturday, an injury that already kept him out of the Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain.
The defender was limited to training alone, with Saturday’s session serving as the decisive test to determine his availability for the squad. However, internal estimates within the club are not optimistic, and his starting appearance seems increasingly difficult even if he manages to make the match.
Flick is unwilling to take risks with a player who has not fully regained his fitness, especially since rushing his return could complicate the injury. Therefore, the final decision will depend on the ankle’s response and Koundé’s ability to train normally.
Xavi Espart emerges as the closest alternative on the right flank, having delivered a standout performance and scored against Paris Saint-Germain, while the presence of João Cancelo gives the coaching staff the flexibility to adjust role distributions across both flanks.
The importance of Koundé’s recovery is magnified by the ongoing absences of Eric García and Andreas Christensen in defense, alongside Dani Olmo and Rooney Bardghji, which narrows the coach’s options for substitutions and workload management during the match.
Barcelona will host its rivals on Sunday, October 25, for the tenth round of the league, leading the table with 27 points from nine victories, while Real Madrid occupies third place with 21 points, giving the hosts a chance to widen the gap to nine points.
