Courtois injured during warm-up in Mallorca could miss the Club World Cup
Alarm bells at Real Madrid Thibaut Courtois picked up an injury during the warm-up ahead of Sunday’s game against Mallorca. The goalkeeper could miss the Club World Cup in Morocco.
Just when Carlo Ancelotti thought his squad had turned the corner following a spate of injuries, another key member of his first team has bitten the dust. Thibaut Courtois picked up an injury as the team was warming up ahead of Sunday’s league game against Mallorca. The Belgian was seen calling members of Madrid’s medical team to come over and take a look at his left thigh. The keeper then left the pitch to have his leg assessed - no details of the injury have been disclosed as of the moment but it appears he may have sprained his thigh muscle or groin. Second choice keeper Andriy Lunin started in his place at Son Moix. Courtois meanwhile, will undergo a more thorough examination when the squad returns to Madrid.
Bad timing
Courtois’ injury couldn’t have happened at a worst time. Madrid travel to Morocco this week to contest the Club World Cup. Ancelotti’s men enter the competition at the semi-final stage, facing Egypt’s Al Ahly on Wednesday. It’s a new setback for Madrid in their attempt to claim another piece of silverware - they aim to win the Club World Cup for the fifth time.
It has also comes just as Madrid start a marathon run of games with practically no time to rest between now and mid-March. Coming up are key games including both legs of the Champions League Round of 16 tie against Liverpool, the Copa del Rey semi-final against Barcelona - plus the Madrid derby and Clásico in LaLiga.
Éder Militão and Karim Benzema were ruled out of the Mallorca game but are expected to be in the squad that flies out to Morocco this week. Eden Hazard is facing a while on the sidelines after being diagnosed with patellar tendonitis (Jumper’s knee) while left-back Férland Mendy will be out of action for a month and half after picking up a muscular injury.