Nacho Available For El Clasico After Card Reduction

Real Madrid defender Nacho Fernandez is set to feature in the Laliga clash between Los Blancos (the whites) and Barcelona on October 28 at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.

Fernandez was originally ruled out of the Elclasico after receiving a red card for a challenge on Portu in the 3-0 win over Girona on September 30.

Joselu, Aurelien Tchouameni and Jude Bellingham scored the goals for the Carlo Ancelotti led side in the encounter.

According to managingmadrid.com, the 33 year old has earlier received a three match suspension after the booking but it has now been reduced to a two match ban.

He missed Real Madrid’s 4-0 win over Osasuna on Saturday, October 7 at the Santiago Bernabeu and he will also sit out the game against Sevilla on Saturday, October 21 at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

A statement from the Spanish Football Federation confirmed the reduction of the suspension.

“The committee decided to reduce Nacho’s sanction from three to two matches for his tackle on Girona’s Portu on matchday 8 of La Liga.

“This comes after Real Madrid filed an appeal stating that Nacho could not be punished with three matches (maximum) as it occurred at the end of the match and that it did not result in a “verifiable” injury to Portu.

“The Competition Committee has decided to accept the appeal and Nacho will be able to play in El Clasico, the Madrid-Barcelona game, because he has already served one against Osasuna and will serve the other one in Sevilla.”

Nacho and Fernandez are now both available for the match with Barcelona after Alaba recovered from injury and Fernandez’s red card ban was lifted.

Nacho has made two appearances in the UEFA Champions League this season.

He has also played six times for Los Blancos in the 2023/24 Laliga campaign.

Real Madrid sit first place in Laliga with 24 points after nine games in the division.

They are first in Group C of the Champions League with six points after two matches.