Breaking news! Blow for Pedri and Barça, joy for Madrid, goodbye to El Clásico

The anticipation in the world of soccer is total because next weekend a new edition of El Clásico will be played. For an hour and a half, the planet will stop to witness one of the most impactful sporting events. Real Madrid and FC Barcelona will face each other again with the intention of bringing great joy to their respective fans.

The match promises to be very interesting, with two opposing styles that will try to impose themselves from the first minute. However, El Clásico will be affected by the absences both teams are dealing with. Neither coach will be able to count on their full arsenal, which adds an element of uncertainty that makes Sunday's Madrid-Barça completely unpredictable.

Barça and Real Madrid go all in with what they have

Meanwhile, for Barça, the absences are especially significant. Lewandowski, Joan García, and Olmo are ruled out due to injury and won't travel to Madrid. As a result, all eyes are on Pedri, the brain and heart of the culé squad, who arrives in top form and has become the team's great hope.

Meanwhile, in Real Madrid, there are also concerns. Xabi Alonso has major doubts in defense, since Huijsen and Trent are arriving in a delicate condition. The Basque coach won't make a final decision until the eve of the match, but he knows he'll need a fully fit backline to stop the young culé strikers.

Breaking news! Blow for Pedri and Barça, joy for Madrid, farewell to El Clásico

However, the biggest blow in recent hours has hit the culé team. This very morning, FC Barcelona confirmed the last-minute absence of Frenkie de Jong, who, barring a miracle, won't be able to play in El Clásico. The "21" is suffering from acute gastroenteritis that has prevented him from training with the rest of his teammates, leaving his recovery for the weekend hanging in the air.

The news has hit the culé locker room like a bucket of cold water. Frenkie de Jong is Pedri's best partner and, together, they form a duo that gives balance and control to Barça's midfield. Without him, Flick loses a key piece in building from the back and in pressing, two crucial aspects to compete against Real Madrid.

In contrast, in Real Madrid, the news has been received with relief. In Valdebebas, they acknowledge that Frenkie de Jong's presence increases Barça's chances of dominating possession. "With Pedri and Frenkie together, Barça are a different team," say those close to the white camp, aware of the importance of his absence.

Thus, with three days to go before El Clásico, the outlook is clear: Real Madrid arrive strengthened and Barça, weakened. Pedri will have to take the lead if Frenkie de Jong's physical condition doesn't improve in the coming hours. For now, it's too soon to confirm or deny his presence at Bernabéu, but what is clear is that he hasn't trained today and his condition is causing some concern.