Clásico: Will Real Madrid's Huijsen, Barcelona's Raphinha return? - ESPN

Real Madrid host Barcelona in the first Clásico of the season on Sunday (stream LIVE at 11:15 a.m. ET on ESPN+ in the U.S.), and both LaLiga giants have had plenty of injury concerns.

Madrid will take on the defending champions sitting two points above them at the top of the LaLiga table, with both sides having played nine league games so far this season.

Madrid coach Xabi Alonso hopes to have several key players back for his first Clásico in charge ofLos Blancos, but he is aware that at the match has come too soon for at least two key defenders.

Barça boss Hansi Flick, meanwhile, hopes to have two players back to face for the trip to the Santiago Bernabéu, but he'll have at least five significant absences.

— Forget Ronaldo vs. Messi! Mbappé vs. Yamal is new Clásico star battle
— Why Clásico could hinge on battle between Bellingham and Pedri
— Is LaLiga's American dream over? Why Barça's Miami match was cancelled

Dean Huijsen missed Spain's matches against Georgia and Bulgaria, and Real Madrid's match against Getafe due to a calf muscle injury, but sources have told ESPN that he could return to the squad this weekend.

There had been hopes earlier this week that the center back could play a few minutes of Wednesday's UEFA Champions League match against Juventus, but in the end he was not selected. A source told ESPN that Huijsen's absence against Juve was to allow him to rest and minimize the risk of a relapse. This way, he could be in better shape for El Clásico.

On Oct. 8, Real Madrid's medical team diagnosed that the 20-year-old would be out for 12 to 15 days, putting him on course to return for the match against Barcelona at the Bernabéu. The defender's condition is improving daily, and there is hope that he will be