El Clasico team news: Barcelona count injuries, Kounde doubtful as Mourinho stirs a row over rest days
Barcelona go into Sunday's Clasico without Olmo, Garcia and Christensen, with Kounde a doubt. Real Madrid lose the banned Vinicius, and Mourinho has complained about rest.
Barcelona and Real Madrid have both had injury and suspension news in the days before Sunday's Clasico at Spotify Camp Nou. Jules Kounde trained apart from the group on Friday and is a doubt. Barcelona are already without Dani Olmo, Eric Garcia and Andreas Christensen. Real Madrid will be missing Vinicius Junior through suspension, and Jose Mourinho has started an argument over how much recovery time each side gets. Kick-off is 9pm in Spain on Sunday, which is 4am on Monday 26 October in Malaysia.
Barcelona: Kounde the big question
According to EFE, Kounde did individual work on the pitch and in the gym on Friday as he recovers from a sprained left ankle. The same injury kept him out of Tuesday's 4-2 Champions League defeat at Paris Saint-Germain. Hansi Flick will speak to the media after Saturday's training, and that should give a clearer picture.
Barcelona's other absences are already confirmed. Olmo has a left adductor injury from the PSG match and is expected to be out for around a month. Garcia has a thigh problem that will keep him out for three to four weeks. Christensen and Roony Bardghji are also unavailable. With Garcia and Christensen both missing, Barcelona's defensive options are thin, so Kounde's fitness matters even more.
There is better news in attack. Raphinha is fit again and leads La Liga with 12 goals. Lamine Yamal has eight league goals and six assists.
Real Madrid: life without Vinicius
Vinicius was sent off against Villarreal for pulling an opponent's hair. The Spanish federation's disciplinary committee then gave him a four-match domestic ban, so he cannot play on Sunday. He was still allowed to play in the Champions League, and Yan Diomande replaced him during Wednesday's 4-1 win over RB Leipzig.
Reports in Spain suggest Diomande could start at Camp Nou because he offers more defensive work. Mourinho may also add an extra midfielder to slow down Barcelona's attack. Rodrygo (knee) and Raul Asencio (stress fracture in his leg) remain long-term absentees. Kylian Mbappe has nine league goals and is Madrid's main threat.
The 24-hour rest row
After the Leipzig win, Mourinho pointed out that Madrid played on Wednesday and Barcelona on Tuesday. That means his side get 24 hours less rest before the Clasico. He also said "confidence doesn't exist" in this fixture, even though Madrid have won four in a row.
Barcelona-based paper Mundo Deportivo replied with figures. It looked at eight October Clasicos since 2018-19 that came after a midweek Champions League night for both clubs, and found Madrid had more total rest days than Barcelona across those games. The paper also noted that Sunday's 9pm slot is the latest available, which gives both teams the most recovery time possible.
What is at stake in the table
Barcelona have won all nine league games, with 27 points and 39 goals. Atletico Madrid are second with 22 points and Real Madrid are third with 21. A home win would put Barcelona nine points clear of Madrid and five clear of Atletico before November. The fixture also falls the night before the Ballon d'Or ceremony in London, where Yamal and Mbappe are both among the nominees.
Key takeaways
- Kounde (ankle) is a doubt after training alone on Friday. Olmo, Garcia, Christensen and Bardghji are out for Barcelona.
- Vinicius is serving a four-match domestic ban, and Yan Diomande is a possible replacement.
- Mourinho says Madrid have 24 hours less rest, but Mundo Deportivo's figures suggest the schedule has favoured Madrid in the past.
- Barcelona (27 points) can go nine points clear of Real Madrid (21) with a win.
FAQ
What time is El Clasico in Malaysia? It kicks off at 9pm on Sunday 25 October in Spain, which is 4am on Monday 26 October in Malaysia. Spain will have moved its clocks back that morning.
Why is Vinicius Junior missing El Clasico? He was shown a red card against Villarreal for pulling an opponent's hair, and the Spanish federation gave him a four-match ban in domestic competitions.
Where are Barcelona and Real Madrid in La Liga? Barcelona are top with 27 points from nine wins. Atletico Madrid are second on 22, and Real Madrid are third on 21.
Sources: beIN Sports, Asharq Al-Awsat, Daily Sabah, Morocco World News, Goal, The False 9, Soccermag