Real Madrid are missing a number of key players due to injury as they clash with Barcelona for football's greatest rivalry on Sunday. Their opponents are without their manager for the first Clasico of the season.
For the first of two La Liga editions of the world-famous clash, Barcelona boss Hansi Flick will be absent from the touchline, leaving the in-game duties to the rest of his staff.
Having won the top-flight title last season, Barcelona are second in the standings behind Los Blancos going into this game. Madrid have secured 24 points through the first nine matches of the 2025/26 campaign.
Barcelona find themselves on a four-match winning streak in this rivalry, their longest since winning five straight over Real Madrid from 2009-2010, but they will need to overcome Flick's absence if they wish to equal that run.
MORE: All-time head-to-head results for El Clasico as Barcelona, Real Madrid sit nearly dead even
Where is Hansi Flick?
Barcelona head coach Flick is not eligible to be on the touchline for their league match against Real Madrid.
Flick was given a one-game suspension in La Liga after he was sent off late in the recent 2-1 win over Girona.
Barca appealed against the decision on the grounds that the second yellow card was harsh, but the attempt was unsuccessful.
Why was Hansi Flick suspended for El Clasico?
Early in stoppage time of their 2-1 win over Girona last weekend, Flick was shown two yellow cards in quick succession by referee Jesus Gil Manzano.
It seemed that Flick was upset about the addition of only four added minutes. The score was 1-1 at the time, as his dismissal came just before Ronald Araujo scored a 93rd-minute winner for Barcelona.
Flick was first booked for sarcastically applauding the referee, before then being shown another yellow almost immediately for an obscene gesture at the official.
The Barcelona boss later apologised for his actions on the touchline.
"I don't like seeing myself like that on TV," Flick said, "and I don't want my grandchildren to see their grandfather like that. I probably have to change my behaviour."
Who will fill in for Hansi Flick in El Clasico?
Filling in for Flick on the touchline is likely to be Barcelona assistant manager Thiago Alcantara.
The Spaniard only just retired following the 2023/24 season, calling time on an illustrious 16-year career that was filled with trophies but ended with what often felt like more injuries than appearances.
A Barcelona youth product, Thiago played four years at the Catalan club before a move to Bayern Munich in 2013, spending seven years with the German giants where he would win the 2019/20 Champions League title. He spent the final four years of his career with Premier League side Liverpool.
Upon retiring, Thiago joined the Barcelona staff, first on a temporary basis for just a month in July of 2024, before becoming a permanent part of Flick's backroom crew at the start of the 2025/26 season.