Real Madrid dealt Thibaut Courtois blow ahead of Champions League derby

Real Madrid have been handed a potentially significant blow just three days before their Champions League round-of-16 second leg away Atlético Madrid, with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois missing Sunday’s LaLiga game against Rayo Vallecano through injury.

Why isn’t Thibaut Courtois playing against Rayo Vallecano today?

The Belgian had been expected to play this weekend after starting in the first leg of the UCL contest on Tuesday (March 4), as well as the defeat to Real Betis on March 1.

Courtois had previously been rested for the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinal against the Real Sociedad on February 26 due to a minor knee problem, with Andriy Lunin starting in his place.

The Ukrainian will regain his spot against Rayo, with Courtois having clearly not fully recovered from the issue.

Will Courtois play against Atlético Madrid in the Champions League?

At this stage, the 32-year-old’s injury isn’t thought to be serious, with his absence from the squad this weekend a precautionary measure ahead of Wednesday’s game against Atleti. However, the fact he still has pain in his knee 10 days later will be at least a slight cause for concern for Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti.

The Champions League derby is finely balanced after a 2-1 victory for Los Blancos in the first leg last week. Atlético will be hopeful of overcoming a one-goal deficit at the Metropolitano, where they have lost only once all season and are unbeaten in four games against their city rivals (two wins and two draws).

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.