Barcelona vs. Real Madrid: Catalan giants 'set' to be without midfield duo for La Liga title showdown

Barcelona are reportedly unlikely to have either Marc Casado or Pablo Torre available for Sunday's La Liga clash with Real Madrid.

Casado has been absent since the middle of March due to a knee problem, but he has recently returned to training, and it had been suggested that the Spaniard would recover in time for El Clasico.

Torre, meanwhile, suffered a knock to his left knee ahead of last weekend's La Liga clash with Real Valladolid, and he has missed the team's last two matches, including Tuesday's Champions League semi-final second leg against Inter Milan.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Torre is in the latter stages of his recovery, but El Clasico will come too soon for the Spaniard, while the club are being cautious when it comes to Casado's fitness due to the nature of his issue.

Casado has been a key player for Barcelona this season, making 36 appearances in all competitions, scoring once and providing six assists.

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Casado, Torre 'set to miss' El Clasico

Torre has scored four goals and registered three assists in 14 appearances for Barcelona this season, but he has only played 10 times in Spain's top flight, with a number of players ahead of him in the pecking order.

Barcelona are also without the services of Marc Bernal for the remainder of the campaign with a serious knee injury, while Jules Kounde is also currently absent, but Alejandro Balde was back in training on Thursday and is in line to return to the squad this weekend.

The Catalan giants are currently top of the La Liga table, four points ahead of second-placed Real Madrid, and the team are chasing a domestic double, having already lifted the Copa del Rey trophy.

However, Hansi Flick's side suffered a 7-6 aggregate loss to Inter Milan in the semi-finals of the Champions League, and the manner of their exit has been criticised by former Barcelona forward Rivaldo.

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Rivaldo: 'Barcelona defensive mistakes unacceptable'

"The match was exciting, but there were mistakes that can't be made in the Champions League semi-finals, and that have also been seen in other matches this season," Rivaldo told reporters.

"It's unacceptable that a team like Barcelona concedes four goals in a single match, as also happened against Benfica and Atletico Madrid this season, or that Inter concedes seven in two matches. At some point, it could happen, and it did.

"It's a painful and difficult loss. They're small mistakes, but this time there was no way to recover. We conceded goals that shouldn't be conceded, especially in a semi-final. I had high hopes of seeing Barca in the final."

Barcelona's final four La Liga matches of the campaign will come against Real Madrid, Espanyol, Villarreal and Athletic Bilbao.