Burkina Faso
Indonesia
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
North Macedonia
United Arab Emirates

Real Madridvs.Barcelona

sportsmole.co.uk, 25 October 2024, 14:36
Real Madrid have welcomed Brahim Diaz back into their squad for Saturday's La Liga contest with Barcelona.

Los Blancos will be bidding to move level on points with their bitter rivals in the La Liga table when the two teams lock horns at Bernabeu on Saturday night for the latest instalment of El Clasico.

Real Madrid have received a fitness boost ahead of the contest, with Brahim able to return after a lengthy absence.

The Morocco international has been missing since the clash with Real Sociedad in the middle of September due to a hamstring problem, with Los Blancos unable to select him in their last eight games in all competitions.

Initially, it had been thought that the 25-year-old would be out until the end of November, but he has recovered quicker than expected and is now available for selection.

Diaz returns to Real Madrid squad for Barcelona contest

Real Madrid will be without the services of four key players, though, with David Alaba still not ready to return from the knee injury that he suffered last December.

Dani Carvajal's 2024-25 campaign is over, meanwhile, due to an ACL injury, while Thibaut Courtois and Rodrygo are both sidelined due to issues that they suffered in the Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday night.

Head coach Carlo Ancelotti could make three changes to the side that started against BVB, with Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni and Andriy Lunin all in line for recalls this weekend.

Kylian Mbappe will again feature in the final third of the field, with the Frenchman preparing for his first El Clasico.

Ancelotti defends Mbappe amid recent criticism

The 25-year-old has scored eight goals and registered two assists in 13 appearances for Real Madrid since his arrival over the summer, but there has been some criticism of his overall performance level.

Ancelotti has accepted that Mbappe has not yet shown his best form for Los Blancos, but the Italian has insisted that Real Madrid are "in no hurry" to see the best version of him.

"We're satisfied, because he's scored goals. He's important for the team, against Dortmund he was very present for both goals. We're in no hurry, neither me, nor the squad, nor him. Obviously, he's going to do better because he has all the qualities to do better," the manager added during his press conference.

Real Madrid have won each of their last four matches against Barcelona in all competitions, including a 3-2 success in the corresponding game at the Bernabeu during the 2023-24 La Liga campaign.

Real Madrid squad vs. Barcelona:

Lunin, Gonzalez, Mestre; Militao, Vazquez, Vallejo, F Garcia, Rudiger, Mendy; Bellingham, Camavinga, Valverde, Modric, Tchouameni, Guler, Ceballos; Vinicius, Mbappe, Endrick, Brahim

Show more

Top News

23 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly decided how they wish to handle the recovery from injury of Marc Guiu. 23 April 2025 talksport.com Matheus Cunha can bring an on-field 'personality' that Manchester United is sorely missing in the club's quest for Premier League glory. 23 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany has heaped praise on Matheus Nunes who produced a 'big career moment' in the Citizens' important 2-1 Premier League win over Aston Villa on Tuesday night. 23 April 2025 talksport.com Liverpool remain front-runners to sign Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez, talkSPORT understands. 23 April 2025 talksport.com Arsenal have been given the weekend off ahead of their crucial Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain. 23 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool, Manchester City and Real Madrid have reportedly found out when summer transfer target Milos Kerkez will make a final decision on his future at Bournemouth. 23 April 2025 talksport.com Danny Murphy believes Ollie Watkins is not quite at the level of a 'top-tier' striker. 23 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona are reportedly willing to listen to offers for Raphinha, but will demand a hefty fee to part ways with the attacker this summer. 23 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Feyenoord will be looking to extend their winning run in the Eredivisie on Friday night when they play host to bottom-half opposition PEC Zwolle at Stadion Feijenoord. 23 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly been informed that they will have to come up with an offer in the region of £67m in order to sign RB Leipzig attacker Xavi Simons during this summer's transfer window. 23 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa are reportedly braced to receive offers for Ollie Watkins this summer amid interest from four Premier League clubs. 23 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly open to selling both Casemiro and Alejandro Garnacho during this summer's transfer window despite the pair being important players for Ruben Amorim in recent months. 23 April 2025 talksport.com Thierry Henry is arguably the Premier League's greatest player - but few would have predicted the career he'd have after his early Arsenal struggles. 23 April 2025 talksport.com Darwin Nunez's contract fine print could mean that Benfica miss out on a significant payment from Liverpool if the Uruguayan international doesn't start again. 23 April 2025 talksport.com Simon Jordan has criticised the impact of Profit & Sustainability Rules on the Premier League. 23 April 2025 talksport.com Leeds and Burnley have been told to back their managers if they are to stay in the Premier League next season. 23 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Braga will aim to take their own slice of the pie from Famalicao when they visit Estadio Municipal 22 de Junho on matchday 31 of the Primeira Liga, in a bid to tighten their grip on third place 23 April 2025 talksport.com Leeds could sack Daniel Farke despite achieving promotion from the Championship, talkSPORT understands. 23 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal's Premier League London derby with Crystal Palace on Wednesday night has "pre-season vibes" written all over it, but Mikel Arteta will be desperate for a victory, Gunners expert Charles Watts has claimed. 23 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk French champions Paris Saint-Germain will look to continue their pursuit for immortality when they welcome Nice to the Parc des Princes on Friday. 23 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Newcastle United have reportedly emerged as the club who are showing the most interest in one of Strasbourg's star players. 23 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Ipswich Town head coach Kieran McKenna has reportedly been shortlisted as a potential new manager for Brentford and Fulham. 23 April 2025 talksport.com Manchester United are ready to cash in on Alejandro Garnacho to help fund their summer rebuild, talkSPORT understands. 23 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Two Premier League clubs are reportedly contemplating whether to make an approach for Chelsea forward Joao Felix. 23 April 2025 talksport.com Manchester United are ready to cash in on Garnacho to help fund their summer rebuild. 23 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly emerged as the frontrunners to secure a deal for one of Bournemouth's star defenders during the summer transfer window. 23 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Ipswich Town are reportedly prepared to offer striker George Hirst a new deal amid interest from Leeds United and Burnley. 23 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Marcus Rashford will reportedly not make any firm decision on his future until the end of the 2024-25 campaign. 23 April 2025 talksport.com Vinicius Jr is close to extending his stay at Real Madrid with a lucrative new contract, talkSPORT understands. 23 April 2025 talksport.com Karim Benzema is desperate to deny Cristiano Ronaldo his first Saudi Pro League title.