La Liga

Griezmann and Ramos out? How Barcelona & Real Madrid could line up in Clasico

Both Ronald Koeman and Zinedine Zidane have selection headaches ahead of what is already shaping up as a key game

10:00am on Saturday 24th October 2020
By Paul Macdonald

Both Barcelona and Real Madrid do not have their problems to seek ahead of their crunch Clasico meeting on Saturday, not least with their squads.

Madrid have the bigger injury problems, with Eden Hazard still a long-term concern and won't make it back for this one. Likewise, Dani Carvajal is definitely out and Alvaro Odriozola will almost certainly miss out too, meaning the right-back position will be a real problem.

Ferland Mendy filled in on the opposite flank against Shakhtar but that didn't go well in a 3-2 defeat, meaning Zinedine Zidane may be forced to field Nacho on that side.

But by far their biggest concern is Sergio Ramos, who limped out of last weekend's defeat to Cadiz with a knee problem and, at this point, seems more likely to miss the match than play. Zidane will do whatever he can to have his captain playing and his involvement could be make-or-break for the outcome of the game.

For Barcelona, Francisco Trincao's excellent performance against Ferencvaros in the Champions League has given Ronald Koeman a headache over whether Antoine Griezmann should get his place back.

Jordi Alba has been out injured and like Ramos faces a real race to be fit and will likely be given as close to kick-off as possible. If he misses out, Sergino Dest will continue to deputise on the opposite flank.

Frenkie De Jong will likely be joined by Sergio Busquets in the double pivot after being rested in midweek, with Philippe Coutinho and Ansu Fati joining Lionel Messi in attack.