Pedri Ruled Out Of El Clasico In Huge ‘KO’ Blow To FC Barcelona For Real Madrid Tie

FC Barcelona star midfielder Pedri has been ruled out of El Clasico and will not face Real Madrid on Sunday, according to the Spanish media.

It had been widely expected that the number ‘8’ would make his comeback from a thigh knock at Camp Nou on the weekend, after pulling up injured in a 2-2 draw with Manchester United in the same stadium around a month ago during a Europa League tie.

Pedri returned to training this week and was said to be making good progress. SPORT claimed that the 20-year-old would do “selective” work over the next couple of days, before undergoing a test on Saturday to determine whether he would be available for the football world’s biggest derby or not.

On Friday afternoon, however, Mundo Deportivo reported that Pedri had not been able to finish a training session and had left the field with a “visible face of concern” as AS relayed.

Madrid-based daily sports newspaper AS was then able to affirm that Pedri has suffered a ‘KO’ and will not play any part in Sunday’s fixture, which could well decide where the La Liga title ends up this year. Furthermore, Pedri will not be able to report for duty with the Spanish national team over the upcoming international break which starts next week.

Pedri’s latest setback could well affect Xavi Hernandez’s first XI plans. The head coach was expected to revert back to his four-man midfield system which was so effective against Madrid in January’s 3-1 Spanish Super Cup final win over Los Blancos in Riyadh.

SPORT had suggested that having Pedri back was effectively like Barca boasting a new signing for El Clasico. In his absence, Barca have lost two games – one in La Liga against Almeria and another at Manchester United which saw them knocked out of the Europa League – and have clearly missed the playmaker’s attacking midfield influence.

In his place, Franck Kessie is likely to step in which means Xavi could still opt for four midfielders or field a 4-3-3 which may feature Ferran Torres on the left wing.

When holding a pre-match press conference on Saturday, Xavi is certain to be grilled on what has happened with Pedri’s recovery progress and what his plans are for the a fixture where a win could see Barca enjoy a 12-point lead over the visitors.