Real Madrid have called up academy goalkeeper Illia Voloshyn to join their first-team squad in Barcelona after Thibaut Courtois was ruled out of El Clasico with an unexpected illness.

According to reports from Madrid Universal, citing El Chiringuito, Courtois will miss the highly anticipated meeting with Barcelona, forcing the Spanish giants to make a late adjustment to their goalkeeping arrangements ahead of the crucial fixture.

Voloshyn has already travelled to Barcelona to join the squad, giving the young goalkeeper an opportunity to experience the atmosphere surrounding one of European football’s most prestigious rivalries. His inclusion provides additional cover for manager Jose Mourinho as Real Madrid prepare for the demanding encounter.

The academy prospect is expected to serve as the team’s reserve goalkeeper rather than start the match. Nevertheless, being included in the senior squad for such an important occasion represents a valuable opportunity to gain experience and work alongside established first-team players.

With Courtois unavailable, Andriy Lunin is expected to take responsibility between the posts. The Ukrainian goalkeeper now faces the challenge of dealing with Barcelona’s attacking threat in a match that could have a significant influence on the La Liga title race.

Lunin’s previous record against Barcelona will also attract attention ahead of the contest. Real Madrid have won three of the four matches in which he has faced the Catalan side, suggesting he has experienced success against their historic rivals.

However, the goalkeeper has conceded eight goals across those four appearances and has yet to record a clean sheet against Barcelona. Those statistics could increase the scrutiny surrounding his performance, particularly given the importance of the fixture and the quality of the opposition’s attacking players.

Courtois’ absence is therefore a considerable setback for Madrid. The Belgian international has been an important figure in the team’s goalkeeping department, and losing him shortly before El Clasico leaves Mourinho with limited time to adjust his preparations.

The manager will need to ensure that Lunin receives adequate support from the defenders in front of him, especially as Barcelona are expected to apply pressure and create opportunities throughout the match. Maintaining concentration and defensive organisation will be essential if Madrid are to secure a positive result.

Although Voloshyn is unlikely to play unless circumstances require another change, his presence offers Madrid an additional option should the need arise. The call-up also provides the academy goalkeeper with valuable exposure to the demands of senior football at the highest level.

For the youngster, travelling with the first team to Barcelona represents an important step in his development, even if his role is ultimately limited to the substitutes’ bench. Training and preparing alongside experienced professionals for such a high-profile fixture could provide useful lessons for his future career.

Real Madrid will now depend on Lunin to deliver a composed performance and help the team cope with Courtois’ absence. With the stakes high and Barcelona posing a significant attacking challenge, the Ukrainian goalkeeper’s display could prove crucial to Madrid’s hopes of achieving a favourable result in El Clasico.