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# Courtois out of Clasico with flu, Lunin in Real Madrid goal
- URL: https://bullquill.com/courtois-out-clasico-flu-lunin-in-goal/
- Published: 2026-10-25T19:33:36.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-25T20:25:22.000Z
- Description: Real Madrid called it a last-minute withdrawal hours before the 20:00 UTC kick-off. Third-choice keeper Illia Voloshyn joins the squad, and Vinicius Junior is still suspended.
- Author: Rowan Ashby
- Tags: Culture & Viral, Breaking, Trending, Thibaut Courtois, Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, El Clasico, LaLiga, #lang-en, #tr-courtois-out-clasico-flu-lunin-in-goal

Thibaut Courtois will miss the Clasico against Barcelona at Camp Nou on Sunday with flu, Real Madrid said, leaving Andriy Lunin in goal for the LaLiga matchday 10 game, which kicks off at 20:00 UTC.

## Key takeaways

- Real Madrid announced on 25 October that Courtois was a "last-minute withdrawal" from the LaLiga matchday 10 game because of flu, according to the club statement quoted by ESPN.
- Lunin deputises in goal and third-choice keeper Illia Voloshyn joins the squad.
- Madrid are also without suspended Vinicius Junior and arrive six points behind leaders Barcelona.
- Barcelona have won all nine of their league games this season.

## Why is Courtois missing the Clasico?

Real Madrid said on Sunday morning, Barcelona time, that Courtois would sit out "tonight's LaLiga matchday 10 game" due to "a bout of the flu", ESPN reported at 10:39 UTC. The club added that Illia Voloshyn had been called up in his place. Sports Illustrated and beIN Sports carried the same statement.

The Belgian, 34, had played every minute of Madrid's season before this match, according to Sports Illustrated. ESPN reported that the squad had already travelled to Barcelona and that, according to a source, Madrid had not fully ruled out Courtois joining them later if his condition improved significantly. Later reports, including Sports Illustrated's, described him as definitively out.

The timing hurts. Courtois played a key role in Madrid's 4-1 Champions League win over RB Leipzig in midweek, ESPN noted.

## Who replaces Courtois in goal?

Andriy Lunin, 27, has been Courtois's regular deputy for several seasons and is set to play his first minutes of this campaign, according to beIN Sports and Sports Illustrated. Voloshyn, normally part of the club's reserve setup, provides cover on the bench.

## Barcelona vs Real Madrid team news

| Team        | Player                               | Status                              | Reported by                       |
| ----------- | ------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------- | --------------------------------- |
| Real Madrid | Thibaut Courtois                     | Out (flu)                           | Club statement via ESPN, SI, beIN |
| Real Madrid | Vinicius Junior                      | Suspended (2nd of 4 LaLiga games)   | ESPN, beIN Sports                 |
| Real Madrid | Raul Asencio, Ferland Mendy, Rodrygo | Out                                 | beIN Sports                       |
| Barcelona   | Dani Olmo                            | Out (thigh/adductor problem)        | Mundo Deportivo, via Foot Africa  |
| Barcelona   | Jules Kounde                         | Doubt (ankle, injured v Real Betis) | Spanish media reports             |

Vinicius was sent off against Villarreal and is serving a four-match domestic ban, beIN Sports reported.

## LaLiga table before kick-off

| Position | Club            | Points |
| -------- | --------------- | ------ |
| 1        | Barcelona       | 27     |
| 2        | Atletico Madrid | 25     |
| 3        | Real Madrid     | 21     |

Data as of 19:30 UTC on 25 October 2026, according to beIN Sports and ESPN. Atletico moved within two points of the top after a 1-0 win over Deportivo on Saturday.

## What we know and what we don't know yet

**Confirmed:** Courtois is out with flu, Voloshyn is in the squad, and Vinicius is suspended. The match is at Camp Nou at 21:00 local time (20:00 UTC), per Al Jazeera.

**Not yet confirmed:** How long Courtois's illness will keep him out beyond Sunday, and whether Kounde is fit to play for Barcelona. Bullquill will not report the starting line-ups until both clubs publish them.

## Background

Real Madrid, now coached by Jose Mourinho, have lost twice in LaLiga this season, at Real Betis and against Atletico Madrid, according to ESPN. Barcelona, the back-to-back champions under Hansi Flick, have a perfect league record. They beat Madrid 2-0 at Camp Nou in May to seal the 2025-26 title.

## What it means

A Madrid defeat would leave them nine points behind Barcelona after ten games, a big gap this early. A win would cut the deficit to three. Doing it without their goalkeeper and without Vinicius makes the job harder. Barcelona have their own problems, with Olmo out and Kounde a doubt in defence.

More coverage is available on the [Real Madrid](https://bullquill.com/tag/real-madrid/), [FC Barcelona](https://bullquill.com/tag/fc-barcelona/) and [LaLiga](https://bullquill.com/tag/laliga/) topic pages.

## Frequently asked questions

### Why is Courtois not playing in El Clasico?

Real Madrid said on 25 October 2026 that Thibaut Courtois was a last-minute withdrawal from the LaLiga matchday 10 game at Barcelona because of a bout of flu.

### Who is in goal for Real Madrid against Barcelona?

Andriy Lunin replaces Courtois in goal, according to ESPN and beIN Sports. Third-choice goalkeeper Illia Voloshyn was called up to the squad.

### What time does Barcelona vs Real Madrid kick off?

The match at Camp Nou kicks off at 20:00 UTC (21:00 in Barcelona, 4:00 pm ET) on Sunday 25 October 2026.

### Where are Barcelona and Real Madrid in the LaLiga table?

Before kick-off Barcelona led LaLiga with 27 points from nine games. Real Madrid were third on 21, six points behind, and Atletico Madrid were two points off the top, according to beIN Sports and ESPN.