Xavi Hernandez and his team are still worried about the availability of several key players, even though there are only four days left until the first El Clasico of the 2023–24 season. It will be between Barcelona and Real Madrid.

There is a good chance that Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, Jules Kounde, and Sergi Roberto will not be able to play in Saturday’s big game when they get better.

Kounde and Roberto are almost certainly out of the competition, and Pedri’s participation is also becoming less likely with each game.

But Xavi is still hoping that at least two of the hurt players will be ready for Real Madrid’s game at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.

The 35-year-old striker Robert Lewandowski wants to play. Reports from earlier this week said that his healing is going as planned, but he is in a race against time to be ready for the Clasico.

So far, Fernando Polo of Mundo Deportivo says that the Poland leader has not given up and is still trying to get himself ready to play Real Madrid.

On the second day of the UEFA Champions League, Lewandowski sprained his ankle against Porto. He is now fully healed and excited to play in the Clasico.

According to the story, the veteran center forward could always get an injection of painkillers to ease the pain in the hurt area for a few hours.

What about the rest?

Pedri has been out with a muscle injury since the end of August. He was supposed to be better by now, but that hasn’t happened.

But the Canary Islander doesn’t think his feelings are good enough to make the move, which makes it unclear whether he will be able to play in El Clasico.

De Jong hurt his ankle more badly than Lewandowski did, and the Dutchman is less willing to take risks while he is still hurt. However, he is still able to play.

Raphinha is also not, even though he hurt his shoulder and wants to play.