Barcelona centre-back Jules Kounde is set to miss the Clasico according to Spanish media reports, after the club confirmed Monday he sprained a knee ligament.
Kounde was substituted in Barcelona’s 2-2 draw at Granada in La Liga on Sunday after he fell following a collision with team-mate Gavi.
Reports said Kounde was likely to be out for around a month with the sprain, adding to injuries for Robert Lewandowski, Frenkie de Jong, Pedri and Raphinha.
Barcelona host Real Madrid on October 28 in La Liga, which Kounde is now poised to miss, along with the visit of Athletic Bilbao on October 22 and a Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk on October 25.
The centre-back has played in all 11 of Barcelona’s game this season and impressed at centre-back, after being used out of position at right-back for the bulk of the previous campaign.
Kounde will also be unavailable for France in their Euro 2024 qualifier against the Netherlands on Friday and a friendly against Scotland next Tuesday.
France are already without Arsenal defender William Saliba because of a toe injury — Les Bleus coach Didier Deschamps replaced him with Jean-Clair Todibo on Sunday.
