Thibaut Courtois will not play the Clásico between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid this Sunday, October 25, due to the flu. The white team has confirmed this morning the last-minute absence of the Belgian goalkeeper, who will not travel to Barcelona to play the match corresponding to the tenth round of LaLiga EA Sports, scheduled for 21:00 hours at the Spotify Camp Nou. The absence represents a setback for José Mourinho, who loses his starting goalkeeper just hours before one of the most important matches of the season and will presumably have to rely on Andriy Lunin to defend the Madrid goal.
Real Madrid has officially communicated that Courtois is suffering from a flu process that prevents him from being available for the match, without providing further details about the evolution of his health status. The player was initially listed in the team's call-up, but has ultimately been dropped from the expedition. In his place, the club has called up young goalkeeper Illia Voloshyn, who joins the list along with Lunin and Sergio Mestre. The news comes at a particularly delicate moment for the whites, who visit the championship leader with six points behind and several important absences in their squad.
What is wrong with Courtois and why is he missing the Barcelona-Real Madrid
The explanation for the absence of the Belgian international is a flu process, according to information released by Real Madrid itself during the morning of this Sunday. The club has ruled out his participation in the match against Barcelona and has modified the call-up to cover his absence.
Courtois had played all twelve official matches of Real Madrid so far this season, accumulating 1,080 minutes of play. The goalkeeper had become a fixed piece in Mourinho's lineups, so his absence will force the Portuguese coach to introduce an unexpected change in a position that seemed secured.
This is not the first time Courtois has missed a match due to health problems of this kind. The goalkeeper had already suffered similar episodes during previous seasons, although the club has not communicated how long he will be out nor if he will be able to return to training in the coming days.
For now, the only confirmed absence is for the Clásico this Sunday.
Lunin, the chosen one to replace Courtois at Camp Nou
The drop of the Belgian places Andriy Lunin as the main candidate to occupy the goal of Real Madrid. The 27-year-old Ukrainian international would face his first official match of the season, after having remained as a substitute for Courtois during the first matches of the course.
According to AS, Lunin has not played an official match with the first team since May 3, 2026, so his return would occur directly in one of the most demanding scenarios for a Madrid goalkeeper.
Despite the lack of recent minutes, the Ukrainian has experience in important matches. During the 2023-2024 season, he took the starting position in numerous matches due to Courtois's injury and had a prominent role in the team's journey to winning the Champions League.
Additionally, Lunin has already played four Clásicos against Barcelona, with a record of three victories and one defeat. In those encounters, he has conceded seven goals, although he has not yet managed to keep his goal clean against the azulgrana team.
His possible starting position will be an important test, especially against a Barcelona that has scored 39 goals in the first nine matchdays of LaLiga and has offensive players like Lamine Yamal and Raphinha.
Who is Illia Voloshyn, the youth player who enters the call-up
To complete the list of goalkeepers, Real Madrid has turned to Illia Voloshyn, a 19-year-old Ukrainian goalkeeper who is part of Real Madrid C.
The call-up of the young player came after Courtois's indisposition was known. Voloshyn was initially expected to play the match of the reserve team against Conquense, but he will join the first team's expedition to travel to Barcelona.
His presence responds to the need to have alternatives in goal, although Lunin remains the candidate to start the match as a starter. The final choice will be known with the publication of the official line-ups approximately one hour before the start of the match.
The other absences of Real Madrid for the Clásico
The absence of Courtois adds to the problems that Mourinho already had in assembling his lineup. The Portuguese coach will not be able to count on Vinícius Júnior, who is serving the second of his four-match suspension in La Liga after his expulsion against Villarreal.
Also ruled out due to injury Rodrygo Goes, Ferland Mendy, and Raúl Asencio, which reduces the coach's alternatives both in attack and defense.
With these absences, Mourinho will have to reorganize different positions to face Barcelona. Kylian Mbappé will be one of the main offensive references of Real Madrid, while the choice of the French forward's companions and the composition of the midfield remain among the uncertainties of the eleven.
What time is Barcelona-Real Madrid and what is at stake
The FC Barcelona-Real Madrid is played this Sunday, October 25, at 21:00 hours at the Spotify Camp Nou and corresponds to the tenth round of the championship.
The team of Hansi Flick arrives as leader of LaLiga with 27 points after winning their first nine matches, while Real Madrid occupies the third position with 21 points, six less than their biggest rival.
A Madrid victory would reduce the difference between both teams to three points, while a Barcelona win would extend the distance to nine. In the midst of this scenario, Courtois' flu forces Real Madrid to face the Clásico without their starting goalkeeper, with Lunin facing the possibility of taking on the responsibility of defending the white goal at Camp Nou.