El Clasico: Real Madrid receive injury boost for Barcelona showdown but four players will miss out

Real Madrid have welcomed Brahim Diaz back into their squad for Saturday's La Liga contest with Barcelona.

Los Blancos will be bidding to move level on points with their bitter rivals in the La Liga table when the two teams lock horns at Bernabeu on Saturday night for the latest instalment of El Clasico.

Real Madrid have received a fitness boost ahead of the contest, with Brahim able to return after a lengthy absence.

The Morocco international has been missing since the clash with Real Sociedad in the middle of September due to a hamstring problem, with Los Blancos unable to select him in their last eight games in all competitions.

Initially, it had been thought that the 25-year-old would be out until the end of November, but he has recovered quicker than expected and is now available for selection.

Diaz returns to Real Madrid squad for Barcelona contest

Real Madrid will be without the services of four key players, though, with David Alaba still not ready to return from the knee injury that he suffered last December.

Dani Carvajal's 2024-25 campaign is over, meanwhile, due to an ACL injury, while Thibaut Courtois and Rodrygo are both sidelined due to issues that they suffered in the Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday night.

Head coach Carlo Ancelotti could make three changes to the side that started against BVB, with Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni and Andriy Lunin all in line for recalls this weekend.

Kylian Mbappe will again feature in the final third of the field, with the Frenchman preparing for his first El Clasico.

Ancelotti defends Mbappe amid recent criticism

The 25-year-old has scored eight goals and registered two assists in 13 appearances for Real Madrid since his arrival over the summer, but there has been some criticism of his overall performance level.

Ancelotti has accepted that Mbappe has not yet shown his best form for Los Blancos, but the Italian has insisted that Real Madrid are "in no hurry" to see the best version of him.

"We're satisfied, because he's scored goals. He's important for the team, against Dortmund he was very present for both goals. We're in no hurry, neither me, nor the squad, nor him. Obviously, he's going to do better because he has all the qualities to do better," the manager added during his press conference.

Real Madrid have won each of their last four matches against Barcelona in all competitions, including a 3-2 success in the corresponding game at the Bernabeu during the 2023-24 La Liga campaign.

Real Madrid squad vs. Barcelona:

Lunin, Gonzalez, Mestre; Militao, Vazquez, Vallejo, F Garcia, Rudiger, Mendy; Bellingham, Camavinga, Valverde, Modric, Tchouameni, Guler, Ceballos; Vinicius, Mbappe, Endrick, Brahim