Real Madrid are set to face Barcelona at Camp Nou this evening in a match that carries more pride than silverware, but the stakes are still sky-high for Los Blancos. The biggest boost for Madridistas? The long-awaited return of Thibaut Courtois between the posts.

The Belgian shot-stopper has been sidelined for over a month with an injury, missing some of the most crucial fixtures of the season—including Champions League clashes against Bayern Munich. But now, he's back in the squad and expected to reclaim his starting spot from Andriy Lunin, according to Diario AS. Manager Alvaro Arbeloa is reportedly ready to trust his number one, despite Courtois having been out for several weeks. The coaching staff believes his presence will steady a defense that's missing several key pieces.

Courtois' return couldn't come at a better time. With Barcelona chasing the league title and Madrid playing for pride, having a world-class goalkeeper can make all the difference in a high-pressure Clasico. However, not all news is good news for the visitors. Kylian Mbappe has failed to recover from a muscle injury in his right quadriceps and will miss the match, leaving Madrid without their star forward for this pivotal encounter.

On a more positive note, Aurelien Tchouameni is in the squad and will avoid any sporting punishment following his recent altercation with Federico Valverde. But with injuries piling up, Madrid are down to just 16 first-team players for the match. To fill the gaps, Arbeloa has called up academy talents D. Jimenez, Thiago, Cestero, and Palacios from Castilla.

It's a depleted squad heading into enemy territory, but with Courtois back in goal and a point to prove, Real Madrid will be looking to spoil Barcelona's party and remind everyone why they're still a force to be reckoned with—even in the toughest of circumstances.