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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport

Real Madrid XI vs Barcelona: Confirmed team news and substitutes for El Clasico

Real Madrid boss Julen Lopetegui has confirmed his starting XI for today's huge match in La Liga, as they take on Barcelona in El Clasico.

Thibaut Courtois returns in goal after Keylor Navas started against Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Nacho comes in for the injured Dani Carvajal at right-back, while Marcelo has recovered in time from a knock which forced him off for the final few minutes on Tuesday to start on the left.

Luka Modric features in midfield despite looking tired in recent games, with Isco playing behind Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema in attack.

Vinicius Junior is left out of the squad altogether, even though Madrid had successfully appealed against the red card he received for youth team Castilla last weekend.

Real Madrid XI: Courtois; Nacho, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Casemiro, Modric, Kroos, Isco; Bale, Benzema.

Substitutes: Odriozola, Lucas Vázquez, Ceballos, Valverde, Mariano, Asensio, Navas

Photo: REUTERS/Juan Medina

Meanwhile, Barcelona pick the same XI that started against Inter Milan here on Wednesday, with Rafinha in the line-up in place of the injured Lionel Messi, alongside Philippe Coutinho and Luis Suarez in attack.

Meanwhile, Arthur shakes off a slight strain to start in midfield. The Brazilian was so impressive on Wednesday that the home fans jeered coach Ernesto Valverde when he was taken off with 14 minutes remaining.

Sergi Roberto is preferred to Nelson Semedo at right-back.

Barcelona XI: Ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto, Piqué, Lenglet, Jordi Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Arthur; Rafinha, Luis Suárez, Coutinho.

Substitutes: Malcom, Cillessen, Chumi, Semedo, Dembele, Vidal, El Haddadi

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