The £56million summer signing from AC Milan has not played since the second leg of Madrid's Champions League last-16 tie with Lyon on March 10 due to a thigh problem and he will be absent again for the visit of Barca.

Also missing still are Pepe and Royston Drenthe, but Spain duo Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos return after being suspended for last weekend's win at Racing Santander.

Alonso and Ramos replace reserve team defenders Marcos Alonso and Mateos in coach Manuel Pellegrini's 19-man squad.