Why is Thibaut Courtois not playing for Real Madrid against Celta Vigo today in the Copa del Rey?

Real Madrid will be without first-choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois for their Copa del Rey game against Celta de Vigo on Thursday evening, as Ancelotti left him out of the squad.

Following his surprise omission from the list the day before the game, fans scrambled to find out whether or not the Belgian had suffered an injury during the catastrophic calamity that was the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia, which saw Barcelona split Madrid apart like a coconut and smash them 2-5.

Why is Courtois not playing for Real Madrid?

However, the high-pitched whirring of fans was settled once it was revealed that Thibaut Courtois had simply been left out of the Copa del Rey squad due to tiredness, with the stopper having played plenty in recent weeks.

As such, Andriy Lunin will take his place in between the sticks and look to keep an Iago Aspas-less Celta side away from making a mark on the 360º scoreboard at the stadium.

WATCH: Real Madrid vs Celta Vigo | Copa del Rey

Full screen

The game between Real Madrid and Celta will be played on Thursday January 16 at Santiago Bernabéu with kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT. ESPN Deportes will broadcast the game for fans in the USA. Get Real Madrid vs Celta live on FuboTV, which offers a free trial.

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.