Isco in El Clásico squad of 21, Nacho suspended
With the vast majority of his first team players available to him, Santiago Solari speaks positively about the return of his talented midfielder.
Isco is back in the Real Madrid squad ahead of Saturday's El Clásico. The Malaga lad returns to a squad list 21 days after injury and appearing not to be high on Santiago Solari's plans. Of course, the boss will have to discard three players on Saturday, one of them being a goalkeeper.
Few players missing for Solari
The Argentine coach was asked in Friday's press conference why Isco wasn't featuring in his teams. The response focused on the midfielder's injury but it has been well documented that, even when fit, he has been left out of the picture.
"He was injured for 18 days," explained Solari. "He has been with the group for four or five days now. He is doing well and he is available, which is the important thing.
"Apart from Llorente, we have almost everyone available."
As well as the missing Marcos Llorente, Odriozola and Brahim Díaz are also out injured. The winter signing from Man City has gone from playing 24 minutes in his first weekend as a Madridista to completely disappearing from Solari's plans. Another that cannot make the squad for the big clash is Nacho, who is suspended.
Real Madrid squad for LaLiga Clásico
Goalkeepers: Navas, Courtois, Luca.
Defenders: Carvajal, Vallejo, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo, Reguilón.
Midfielders: Kroos, Modric, Casemiro, Valverde, Asensio, Isco, Ceballos.
Forwards: Mariano, Benzema, Bale, Lucas Vázquez, Vinicius Jr.