Real Madrid certainly aren’t shy of superstars. Yet if you asked Barcelona supporters who they’d most like their arch-rivals to be without for Sunday’s Clásico, they probably wouldn’t utter Kylian Mbappé or Jude Bellingham in response.

Vinícius Júnior is already ruled out through suspension, and there was drama surrounding Thibaut Courtois on the day of the big La Liga encounter. It’s the Belgian who Barcelona would have loved to sit out El Clásico, given his status as one of the world’s best goalkeepers and his knack for showing up for the big occasion.

Courtois had played every minute of Madrid’s campaign until Sunday, but his streak in the team has come to an end.

Thibaut Courtois’s Confusing Status for El Clásico

Courtois wants to play despite illness.…