Real Madrid dealt huge Courtois injury blow: How many games will he miss?
Tests have confirmed that Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has suffered an injury that’s more serious than first thought.
Thibaut Courtois faces a significant injury layoff, after the Real Madrid goalkeeper was on Thursday diagnosed with a muscle tear in his right thigh.
For Madrid, it’s an injury blow that had been a looming possibility over the past several hours - and now it’s confirmed. After Tuesday’s game against Manchester City, the initial examinations already suggested something more serious than simple muscle fatigue. Courtois was still dealing with significant pain in the area, and everything was pushed to Thursday morning, when he underwent a scan that has confirmed the worst fears. Courtois will be out for a month and a half, meaning understudy Andriy Lunin will have to step up.
There will always be the question of whether the 45 minutes Courtois played at the Etihad worsened what had been a minor issue. The 33-year-old felt a sharp twinge during warm‑ups. He spoke with the medical staff in the locker room, they tested the area quickly, and the decision was made to play - and in that first half, Courtois came up with four high‑level saves. At halftime, another round of discussions - and this time, they chose to cut their losses: substitution, Lunin on. At 4-1 on aggregate and against ten men, the situation allowed it.
Rest and MRI
That’s when the countdown began. “We’ll see what the tests say,” Courtois told reporters in the bowels of the Etihad, walking away barely limping. After landing in Madrid in the early hours, the medical staff decided the area needed 24 hours of rest, scheduling the scans for Thursday morning. So while the squad headed to the training ground today, Courtois went to the MRI machine. And there, the diagnosis confirmed the tear - one feared since yesterday. Now a reality.
Which games is Courtois set to miss?
- Out - Mar 22: Real Madrid–Atlético, LaLiga
- Out - Mar 28: United States–Belgium, friendly
- Out - Apr 1: Mexico–Belgium, friendly
- Out - Apr 4: Mallorca–Real Madrid, LaLiga
- Out - Apr 7: Real Madrid–Bayern, UCL
- Out - Apr 11/12: Real Madrid–Girona, LaLiga
- Out - Apr 15: Bayern–Real Madrid, UCL
- Out - Apr 21/22: Real Madrid–Alavés, LaLiga
- Out - Apr 25/26: Betis–Real Madrid, LaLiga
- Highly doubtful - Apr 28/29: Semifinal 1st leg, UCL*
*If Real Madrid qualify
Madrid turn to Lunin
Madrid are now forced to draft in Lunin, who has only started three matches this season and has appeared in four total, including the 45 minutes at the Etihad. That was, in fact, his only clean sheet: across those four matches he has faced 21 shots (conceding eight goals). Courtois had played 41 games this season, logging the most minutes of any player in the squad (3,645). But now he must stop. Because this wasn’t just muscle fatigue - it was more serious than that.
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