Real Madrid not hopeful of having Nacho available to play Barcelona: how long is his suspension?

Real Madrid are not optimistic of having club captain Nacho available for El Clásico against Barcelona on Saturday October 28 in Montjuïc. The veteran defender was inexplicably sent off in injury-time of his team’s 3-0 win at Girona at the end of September, with his reckless challenge on Portu coming with the outcome of the match already decided. The winger was forced to leave the field on a stretcher and was taken to hospital, with Nacho hit with a three-match suspension as a result.

Girona’s Portu suffers two injuries in Nacho incident

Several days later, the Catalan club revealed on social media that Portu had suffered both ankle and hip injuries in the incident, although they didn’t disclose how long he would be out of action. The feeling was, however, that the diagnosis of two separate issues would do little to help Nacho reduce the length of his ban.

Real Madrid’s defensive issues ahead of El Clásico

As is often the case when players are sanctioned, Real Madrid pleaded with the Spanish Soccer Federation’s Appeals Committee in an attempt to cut the defender’s suspension by one game. Nacho sat out the weekend victory over Osasuna and will also miss the trip to Sevilla on 21 October. However, the following LaLiga fixture sees Los Blancos face bitter rivals Barcelona at Montjuïc and Carlo Ancelotti could potentially be short on numbers in central defence, with Eder Militão a long-term absentee and doubts surrounding David Alaba’s fitness. Nacho being available would be most welcome to the Italian.

In the end, the injuries suffered by Portu were not as bad as were first feared and he was even named on the bench in Girona’s win over Cádiz on Sunday, although he didn’t come on. In any case, Madrid have little hope of Nacho’s suspension being reduced by the Appeals Committee, which could then see them take their case to Spain’s Administrative Tribunal for Sport (TAD), who are historically more likely to overturn the initial ruling. Even there, however, the LaLiga giants are well aware they would be appealing in hope rather than expectation.