Real Madrid defender not in team training ahead of Barcelona encounter | OneFootball

After defeating Manchester City via penalties in the UEFA Champions League, Real Madrid play yet another season-defining encounter this weekend when they take on Barcelona in La Liga.

With an eight-point advantage over their eternal rivals in the table, a win on Sunday at the Bernabeu would all but guarantee the title for Carlo Ancelotti’s men.

However, a loss would open the door for Barça to make a late push to defend their La Liga crown. So, it goes without saying that the match is a critical one for Los Blancos.

As such, Ancelotti will hope to have a full-strength squad at his disposal for Sunday’s match.

Carvajal not in team training

However, two days away from the blockbuster El Clasico on Sunday, Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal did not train with the rest of the team, reports Mario Cortegana.

Despite that, the club expect that the veteran defender will be ready to start against Barcelona come Sunday.

Carvajal did not train with the group today. (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Carvajal put in an immense shift this past Wednesday against Manchester City as he went toe-to-toe with Jack Grealish and then Jeremy Doku at the Etihad Stadium.

However, with the game going deep, Carvajal started cramping up in both his legs and had to be taken off by Ancelotti in the second half of extra time.

While Carvajal might not have trained with the group today, there are no problems expected with regard to his availability for Sunday’s El Clasico.

The veteran Spaniard has been a top performer for Real Madrid this season and as such, his availability will be crucial for the team especially in a high-profile clash against Barcelona.