Star goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is set to miss Real Madrid’s upcoming derby against Atletico Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu. The Belgian international was substituted at halftime during Real Madrid’s 2-1 Champions League victory over Manchester City in the Round of 16.
Courtois played a vital role in the first half at the Etihad, making key saves from Erling Haaland and Rodri Hernandez to help ‘Los Blancos’ maintain their three-goal aggregate lead from the first leg. Concern grew at halftime when reserve goalkeeper Andriy Lunin was observed warming up, and Courtois was subsequently withdrawn by Alvaro Arbeloa.
Hamstring Strain Rules Courtois Out of Madrid Derby
According to Marca, the substitution was due to a hamstring strain. While the full extent of the 33-year-old’s injury is not yet known, it’s largely confirmed that he will miss Sunday’s high-profile clash against Atletico Madrid at the Bernabeu. Courtois is scheduled for further tests on Wednesday morning to confirm the severity, but initial assessments are not optimistic.
A potential upside for Real Madrid is that the derby precedes an international break, providing Courtois with a two-week window to recover before the season’s final quarter begins. A minor strain could see him return to full fitness in 7-10 days. However, a more significant injury, such as a second-grade tear, would disrupt ‘Los Blancos” schedule throughout April.
Andriy Lunin Steps In as Courtois’ Deputy
Arbeloa will likely be reassured by Lunin’s composed performance after coming on, as the Ukrainian made several crucial saves early in the second half. This season, Lunin has made only three previous appearances: two in the Copa del Rey (a 3-1 win over Talavera de la Reina and a 3-2 loss to Albacete) and one in the Champions League (a 4-3 victory against Olympiakos). Despite limited recent playtime, his 66 appearances for Real Madrid demonstrate experience in stepping in for Courtois. Fran Gonzalez will serve as the alternative goalkeeper on Sunday.
