Will Thibaut Courtois play against Atlético? Real Madrid goalkeeper injury update
Courtois was substituted at halftime of Real Madrid’s Champions League victory at Manchester City on Wednesday.
The uncertainty over Thibaut Courtois’ availability to face Atlético Madrid will continue at least until tomorrow. Real Madrid’s medical staff agreed with the goalkeeper that he would rest today and undergo a scan on Thursday, to obtain a clearer diagnosis and determine the extent of a potential injury.
Why was Courtois substituted at City?
Courtois was forced off at halftime of yesterday’s Champions League win at Manchester City, prompting Andriy Lunin’s entrance for the second half. The Ukrainian delivered a strong performance, preventing Pep Guardiola’s side from gaining a foothold in the tie. Courtois had felt discomfort in his right adductor, and Madrid opted to take no risks with him to prevent the issue from worsening.
Madrid returned to Spain well into the early hours of this morning, with players not arriving home until nearly 5:00 a.m. local time. The medical staff felt it was best for Courtois to rest properly today and wait until Thursday for the MRI, allowing any potential hematoma to settle and ensuring a clearer imaging result.
Speaking in this postgame press conference in Manchester, Madrid boss Álvaro Arbeloa sought to play down fears over Courtois’ injury. “He felt some discomfort,” Arbeloa told reporters. “He wanted to continue, but it wasn’t necessary. We have the derby coming up soon, another final, a hugely important match.”
When is Real Madrid vs Atlético?
After beating City 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium - to seal a 5-1 aggregate win in the Champions League last 16 - Madrid now take on Atlético on Sunday, Mar. 22, on matchday 29 of the LaLiga season. Los Blancos head into this weekend’s league action lying four points behind leaders Barcelona, who play Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.
The Spanish-capital derby kicks off at the Bernabéu at 4:00 p.m. ET/1:00 p.m. PT; viewers in the U.S. can watch the game on ESPN Select and ESPN Deportes, and can also stream the action on fubo, which offers a free trial.
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