Real Madrid rule out Thibaut Courtois for Barcelona clash because of illness

Real Madrid have ruled goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois out of Sunday’s meeting with Barcelona after he was diagnosed with influenza.

The decision was announced only a few hours before kick-off, with Courtois removed from the squad because of the illness.

Jose Mourinho responded by calling up Ilya Voloshin as a replacement. Voloshin joins Andriy Lunin and Sergio Mestre among Real Madrid’s goalkeeping options for the match.

Real Madrid face Barcelona at Camp Nou on Sunday evening in the 10th round of La Liga. Courtois’ late omission means Lunin is expected to be the principal alternative in goal.

Lunin has played in four matches against Barcelona for Real Madrid. The club won three of those games and lost one, although the goalkeeper conceded eight goals across the fixtures and did not keep a clean sheet in any of them.

Real Madrid are currently third in the La Liga table with 21 points, six points behind leaders Barcelona.