Real Madrid will be looking to make it six straight wins in all competitions when they welcome Barcelona for El Clasico on Saturday night.
Los Blancos, who are currently third in the table, two points behind second-placed Barca, will again definitely be without the services of Raphael Varane this weekend due to a positive coronavirus test.
Fellow centre-back Sergio Ramos is also unavailable as he battles a calf problem, while the match will come too soon for Dani Carvajal, who is struggling to overcome a thigh complaint.
There had been a suggestion that Eden Hazard could return from a muscular injury to make the bench as the Belgium international only just missed out on a spot against Liverpool on Tuesday, but he will also not feature this weekend.
Head coach Zinedine Zidane could ultimately decide to select the same XI that took to the field for the 3-1 win over Jurgen Klopp's side in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.
Nacho and Eder Militao are certain to feature as the two centre-backs, while Marco Asensio could again join Vinicius Junior and Karim Benzema in the final third of the field.
Federico Valverde is an option if Zidane wishes to change formation, but the Uruguay international has only just returned from injury and therefore might be used off the bench.
There remains huge speculation surrounding the future of Lucas Vazquez, but Carvajal's absence means that the Spaniard will again be in the starting XI on Saturday.
Real Madrid possible starting lineup: Courtois; Vazquez, Militao, Nacho, Mendy; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Asensio, Benzema, Vinicius
> Click here to see how Barcelona could line up for this contest
Matt Law
