Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has undergone tests that have confirmed a muscle injury suffered during Sunday’s city bad-tempered derby against Atletico.
Carlo Ancelotti had already spoken immediately after the game about a suspected “muscular problem” pending an evaluation on Monday morning.
That assessment has now been carried out by Madrid staff, revealing an abductor muscle problem in the Belgian’s left leg.
The club have not given a recovery timeframe, but ESPN state Courtois is expected to miss the next two games – this week’s Champions League clash with Lille in France on Wednesday night and Saturday’s meeting with Villarreal.
Left-back Fran Garcia is the other fresh injury concern in the squad. The 25-year-old was on the receiving end of a tackle from Marcos Llorente that resulted in the Atletico player, who did apologise, being sent off.
“Fran Garcia took an ugly knock,” Ancelotti summarised afterwards.
Garcia had only just appeared as a late substitute for Rodrygo as Madrid, then leading 1-0, looked to try and see the game out. But Atletico’s equaliser from Angel Correa came in the fifth minute of stoppage time, with Llorente dismissed for the nasty tackle in the 99th minute.
Despite appearing to struggle during the game, Courtois finished without being withdrawn.
It points to Andriy Lunin, who was Madrid’s number one for most of last season due to Courtois suffering two major knee injuries, reclaiming the gloves for the trip to Lille.
Garcia likely wouldn’t have started that one anyway, with Ferland Mendy set to hold onto his place.
Madrid began their Champions League campaign with an unconvincing 3-1 win over Stuttgart two weeks ago, one of 15 clubs that claimed maximum points on matchday one.
Early estimates are that 15 points (five wins from eight games) will be sufficient to secure a top eight finish and therefore an automatic bye to the last 16 of the competition.
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