Barcelona face a nervous wait to see whether midfielder Frenkie de Jong will be fit for the trip to Real Madrid.
De Jong missed training this morning – three days before the season’s first Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu – with what is being reported as a bout of gastroenteritis.
The Netherlands international has forged a strong midfield partnership with Pedri and his absence would represent a major blow for a Barca team that head to the capital two points behind their arch-rivals.
De Jong is the second player to be struck down by the bug with central defender Andreas Christensen missing the midweek Champions League win over Olympiacos after feeling unwell. The Dane also sat out training today.
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Raphinha and Torres set to be fit
There was better news, however, on the status of Raphinha. The Brazil forward took part in the group session at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper and is likely to be given the all-clear to return to the squad for the weekend game.
Ferran Torres is also fit and could well start at the Bernabeu in place of the injured Robert Lewandowski.
The visitors will also be without Dani Olmo, Gavi, Joan Garcia and Marc-Andre Ter Stegen at the weekend.
Defensive worries for Madrid
Madrid are not without their injury worries either, particularly at the back.
David Alaba, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rudiger and Dean Huijsen all missed last night’s 1-0 win over Juventus.
Huijsen is the most likely to return against Barca. If the Spain international is ruled out, it leaves Madrid boss Xabi Alonso with just two options at centre-half: Eder Militao and Raul Asencio.
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