No one wants to miss a Clasico. But for some, there may be no choice. Injured players who won’t recover in time, those who may join the injury list in the days leading up to the match, and also the six players who are just one yellow card away from suspension.
Three players from each team are at risk of missing out — had Kounde not been injured, the list for Barcelona would have included four. If any of them pick up a yellow card, it could create problems for their coaches.
In fact, Hansi Flick has a couple of untouchables on his list of players at risk: Raphinha and Inigo Martinez. Gavi is also on the verge of suspension.
As for Ancelotti, he has Tchouameni, Dani Ceballos and Lucas Vazquez on yellow card alert. With the injury list already bursting, especially in defence, the real concern would be losing the first one.
The Frenchman may be forced to step in for the injured Rudiger, who was ruled out after suffering an injury in the closing moments of the Copa del Rey final, along with a six-match suspension for losing his temper from the bench. If Ceballos misses the match, Fede Valverde could step in at right-back.
While Barcelona will travel to face relegated Valladolid, an ideal scenario for Flick to rotate and give some of the players at risk a rest, Ancelotti has no such luxury.
He must field his strongest XI against Celta, both to close the four-point gap with Barcelona and due to the lack of options with so many players sidelined.