Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois out of Clasico with flu

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Is El Clásico more important for Barcelona or Real Madrid? (2:18)

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois will miss the team's Clásico clash with Barcelona with flu, the club said on Sunday.

Courtois, 34, is a key player for Madrid, but is now set to be absent for the LaLiga match at Camp Nou, which kicks off with Madrid trailing leaders Barça by six points in the table.

He would be replaced in goal by Andriy Lunin, 27, who has been a regular deputy for Courtois in recent seasons, including in Madrid's run to the Champions League final in 2024.

"Courtois is a last-minute withdrawal from tonight's LaLiga matchday 10 game between Real Madrid and Barcelona due to a bout of the flu," the club said in a brief statement. "Illia Voloshyn has been called up to the squad in his place."

However a source also told ESPN that while the squad were already in Barcelona, Madrid were not completely ruling out Courtois travelling to join them later in the day, in time for the game, if his condition were to improve significantly.

Madrid go into the Clásico under pressure, having already lost twice in LaLiga this season -- at Real Betis and Atletico Madrid -- while Barcelona have won all of their league games.

However, Madrid's form has improved since the international break, with Courtois playing a starring role, including in their 4-1 Champions League win over RB Leipzig in midweek.

The visitors will also be without Vinícius Júnior at Camp Nou, as he continues his four-game domestic ban.

Additional reporting from ESPN's Rodra.