How many Real Madrid games will injured Thibaut Courtois miss? When will he return?

Real Madrid have confirmed that Thibaut Courtois suffered groin damage in Sunday’s tempestuous derby draw with Atletico Madrid, with the Belgian expected to be sidelined until the second half of October.

Madrid confirm Courtois adductor injury

“After tests carried out today on our player Thibaut Courtois by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with an adductor injury in his left leg,” Madrid said in a statement today. “His progress will be monitored.”

While Los Blancos did not offer details on when Courtois is expected back, it is understood that the 32-year-old will be out for around two weeks. He is likely to return to action on October 19, when Madrid take on Celta Vigo in their first game after the October international break.

Which Real Madrid games will Courtois miss?

Courtois is poised to miss Madrid’s Champions League clash with Lille on October 2, and the team’s LaLiga match-up with Villarreal on October 5. His understudy, Andriy Lunin, is set to deputise.

The game against Villarreal will be Madrid’s last before international week - a hiatus in the club game that serves to reduce the number of games Courtois will miss for the Spanish and European champions. Under normal circumstances, he would have been facing a four or five-game absence.

Even if he had been fit during international week, Courtois wouldn’t have been involved for Belgium. Capped 102 times by Les Diables Rouges, he has stepped away from the national-team fold over his differences with head coach Domenico Tedesco.

Courtois in eye of storm as Atlético derby stopped

So far this season, Courtois has made 10 appearances in all competitions for Madrid, keeping four clean sheets and conceding seven goals.

On Sunday, he was beaten by a 95th-minute equaliser for Ángel Correa, as Madrid drew 1-1 with city rivals Atlético.

A former Atleti player, Courtois was at the centre of dramatic scenes during the second half at the Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano, when referee Mateo Busquets Ferrer halted the game for 10 minutes after the keeper complained that home supporters behind his goal were throwing objects onto the field.