Andres Iniesta to miss Barcelona vs Real Madrid El Clasico decider

Barcelona will be without Andres Iniesta for the second leg of the Supercopa de Espana (El Clasico) against Real Madrid.

Andres Iniesta is to miss the second leg of Barcelona’s Supercopa de Espana clash with Real Madrid due to a thigh injury.

Captain Andres Iniesta did not train with Barcelona on Tuesday and has been omitted from the 19-man squad to play Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu. (AFP/AP)

Captain Iniesta did not train with the rest of the squad on Tuesday and has been omitted from the 19-man party named for the El Clasico clash at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The midfielder, whose issue is with his right leg, joins Rafinha (adductor) and Thomas Vermaelen (calf) in missing out through injury.

Andres Iniesta played 68 minutes of the first leg as Barca fell to a 3-1 defeat, leaving them with a mountain to climb when they travel to the capital on Wednesday.

A Gerard Pique own goal gave Madrid the lead before Cristiano Ronaldo and Marco Asensio clinched the victory with Lionel Messi having pulled Barcelona level from the spot.

Madrid will be without Ronaldo for the return leg after the Portuguese was banned for five matches following a shove on referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea in Barcelona.