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French defender Jules Koundé, who has an injury to his left ankle, will miss El Clásico against Real Madrid, as confirmed by Barcelona's German coach Hansi Flick yesterday, Saturday, on the eve of the highly anticipated Spanish football league match.
Flick said in a press conference, "Jules will not be available (Sunday), we do not want to risk him."
The French international defender, who suffered a sprain in his left ankle last week against Real Betis (5-2), has not recovered enough from his injury to hope to keep his place in the Catalan team's starting lineup.
In addition to Koundé, Barcelona, the Spanish champion for the last two seasons and the undefeated league leader, will be missing several key players on Sunday in El Clásico against Real due to various injuries: Eric García (thigh), Dani Olmo (left adductor muscle), and the Dane Andreas Christensen (tear in the rectus femoris muscle of the left thigh).
When asked about the first defeat of the season suffered on Tuesday against France's Paris Saint-Germain (2-4) in the Champions League, the German coach confirmed that he had analyzed the match and drawn conclusions regarding the defensive level.
He said, "We did many good things, but we also saw situations where we need to improve. We have to develop as a team. Tomorrow we face one of the best teams in the world, and it will be a new opportunity to do that."
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