Courtois Injury Concerns Mount for Real Madrid Ahead of Derby

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is facing a potential spell on the sidelines after being substituted at halftime during Tuesday night’s Champions League clash against Manchester City. The injury casts doubt on his availability for the upcoming Madrid derby against Atletico Madrid this weekend.

What Happened with Courtois?

Despite a dominant first-half performance from Real Madrid, securing a 4-1 aggregate lead, manager Carlo Ancelotti opted to replace Courtois with Andriy Lunin at the break. While Courtois didn’t appear to suffer a visible injury during the first 45 minutes at the Etihad Stadium, reports suggest he communicated a fitness issue to the coaching staff [AS USA].

Nature of the Injury

Spanish broadcaster Movistar reported that Courtois was experiencing discomfort in his right adductor, a group of muscles located at the top of the thigh [AS USA]. Further tests are scheduled for Wednesday to determine the severity of the strain [Yahoo Sports].

Impact on the Derby and Beyond

The timing of the injury is particularly concerning for Real Madrid, with the derby against Atletico Madrid looming this Sunday. Marca reports that Courtois is “all but ruled out” of the derby due to a hamstring strain [Yahoo Sports]. The international break following the derby offers a potential window for recovery, with a possible return to full fitness in 7-10 days if the strain is minor. A more serious tear could sideline him for a longer period, impacting Madrid’s fixtures in April [Yahoo Sports].

Lunin Steps Up

Andriy Lunin replaced Courtois at halftime against Manchester City, making three crucial saves and demonstrating his readiness to deputize. Lunin’s performance will be vital if Courtois is unable to recover in time for the derby and subsequent matches [AS USA].

Courtois’ History Against Manchester City

Interestingly, Courtois has faced Manchester City more times as a Real Madrid player (nine times) than he did during his time at Chelsea (seven times) [HITC]. The upcoming fixtures would have brought that total to eleven encounters.