Courtois ruled out of El Clásico at last minute with flu-like illness, Real Madrid says

As of 7:13 a.m. ET, Oct. 25, 2026

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois will miss Sunday's El Clásico against Barcelona because of a flu-like illness, the club said.

"Courtois es baja de última hora debido a un proceso gripal para el partido de esta noche entre el Real Madrid y el Barcelona," Real Madrid said in a notice on its website, saying Courtois was a last-minute absence because of a flu-like illness for the matchday 10 La Liga game. "En su lugar entra en la convocatoria Illia Voloshyn," the club added, meaning Voloshyn has been called into the matchday squad in Courtois' place. The club also posted the news on its X account.

The match at Spotify Camp Nou is scheduled for 9 p.m. local time, Real Madrid said when LaLiga set the schedule. That is 4 p.m. ET, because most of Europe turned its clocks back overnight while the United States has not yet, according to FC Barcelona's viewing guide.

What is not known

Real Madrid did not say who would start in goal, and the club's notice named Voloshyn only as a squad addition. The club did not say how long Courtois is expected to be out.