Real Madrid will be missing TWO key players for this weekend’s El Clasico, as Carlo Ancelotti’s men are handed double injury blow ahead of LaLiga showdown with Barcelona

Real Madrid will take on LaLiga rivals Barcelona without two key players on Saturday night after being handed a double injury setback.

The first El Clasico of the season is set to be played at the Santiago Bernabeu this weekend, with both teams looking to lay down a marker.

But Madrid’s task has been made more difficult after they received some disappointing injury news in the last 24 hours.

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois suffered a muscle strain in his left leg during Madrid’s 5-2 win over Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday and has been ruled out of Saturday’s match.

He will be joined on the sidelines by Brazilian forward Rodrygo, who also picked up a muscle problem in the same match.

The double injury blow is a major setback for Carlo Ancelotti as his side prepare to face Barcelona

Rodrygo is set to undergo further tests on Thursday, and it is hoped that he will be back for next week’s game against Valencia, but Saturday’s El Clasico will come too soon for him.

Madrid are already without Daniel Alaba and Dani Carvajal, and Carlo Ancelotti has now been presented with further selection headaches.

Los Blancos will also be taking on a Barcelona side in scintillating form after Hansi Flick’s men dispatched Bayern Munich 4-1 on Wednesday night.

Raphinha netted a hat-trick and Robert Lewandowski got on the scoresheet as Barcelona put their German opponents to the sword.

Barcelona are also flying in LaLiga, having opened up a three-point lead over Madrid after winning nine of their opening 10 matches.

Barcelona are flying at the moment after Raphinha scored a hat-trick in a 4-1 win against Bayern Munich on Wednesday

Madrid are unbeaten, though, and proved their class by coming from two goals down to beat Dortmund in the Champions League this week.

The defending LaLiga champions will be no pushovers, but must now look to get a positive result against their fiercest rivals while missing some of their best players.