Frenkie de Jong arrives at the El Clasico match after limited appearances since recovering from the injury he sustained at the end of February.

De Jong has been a key element in Hans Flick's formations since he took over coaching Barcelona, as he relied on him in the central midfield position, before his appearances declined in the last two months due to injury.

The player suffered a muscle tear on February 26, with the club explaining that he has an injury in the long head of the biceps femoris in the right leg, causing him to miss nine matches, including the second leg of the King's Cup semi-final against Atletico Madrid and the quarter-finals of the Champions League against the same team, according to what was reported by the newspaper "Sport."

His last full match was on February 22 against Levante, in which he scored a goal during the 3-0 victory. After a long absence, he gradually returned, playing only 95 minutes in his last five matches.

On the other hand, Barcelona benefited from the return of Gavi, who has become a key element in Flick's plans, having started in five consecutive matches, all of which ended in victories, despite being eliminated from the Champions League by Atletico Madrid.

Gavi played a significant role in leading the team to the Clasico with an 11-point lead, particularly during the away victories against Getafe and Osasuna.

According to the report, Flick continues to focus on securing the league title without considering any other factors, relying on rotating the lineup amidst absences. This has kept the competition between De Jong and Gavi for a starting spot in the Clasico ongoing.

The report indicated that De Jong's participation as a starter against Real Madrid is still undecided, despite his physical readiness, while Gavi seems to be the more likely option to start.