Real Madrid receive El Clásico boost as Nacho's ban reduced | OneFootball

Real Madrid have been handed a boost ahead of El Clásico after seeing Nacho’s three-game suspension reduced.

The 33-year-old was sent off during his side’s 3-0 win over Girona earlier this month that would have ruled him out of the clash with Barcelona.

But Nacho’s ban was downgraded on Monday to only a two-game absence, leaving him free for the showdown at Montjuïc’s Olympic Stadium on 28 October.

“The Competition Committee decided to reduce Nacho’s sanction from three to two matches for his tackle on Girona’s Portu on matchday 8 of LaLiga,” confirmed a Spanish FA statement.

“This comes after Real Madrid filed an appeal stating that Nacho could not be punished with three matches (maximum) as it occurred at the end of the match against Girona and that it did not result in a “verifiable” injury to Portu.

“The Competition Committee has decided to accept the appeal and Nacho will be able to play in El Clásico, the Madrid-Barcelona game, because he has already served one match against Osasuna and will serve the other one in Sevilla.”

Nacho’s return for Los Blancos will lessen any potential defensive headaches for Carlo Ancelotti with Éder Militão ruled out for the season and David Alaba only just returning from injury.