The Belgian goalkeeper was withdrawn at halftime in Manchester, leaving manager Álvaro Arbeloa to sweat over his availability for Sunday’s crucial clash
Real Madrid secured their place in the Champions League quarter finals with a 2-1 victory over Manchester City on Tuesday night, but the celebration was tempered by an injury to Thibaut Courtois.
The star goalkeeper was substituted during the interval at the Etihad Stadium after reporting discomfort in his right leg.
Initial assessments by the club’s medical staff point to a strain in his right adductor muscle, a diagnosis that has immediately cast doubt on his participation in the upcoming clash against Atlético Madrid.
Courtois had been instrumental in the opening 45 minutes, making several key interventions to maintain Real Madrid‘s aggregate lead before the alarm was raised in the dressing room.
Despite the player’s reported desire to continue, the coaching staff opted for a cautious approach, introducing Andriy Lunin for the second half. Head coach Álvaro Arbeloa later defended the decision, noting that the intensity of the current schedule requires careful management of key assets.
“It was out of precaution,” Arbeloa told Movistar+ following the final whistle. “He had some minor discomfort and we didn’t want to take any risks. I hope he’ll be available on Sunday.”
Testing scheduled for Thursday ahead of Bernabéu showdown
The true extent of the injury will remain unknown until Thursday morning, when Courtois is scheduled to undergo a comprehensive battery of medical tests in Madrid.
These results will dictate whether the Belgian can feature in the Sunday night duel at the Bernabéu. Arbeloa emphasised the importance of the derby in his post-match press conference, acknowledging that while Courtois is the preferred starter, the team remains confident in their backup options.
“We have the derby soon, another final, a crucial match,” he added. “We’re lucky to have a great goalkeeper like Lunin; he did exceptionally well. What he does every time he plays isn’t easy.”
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Lunin, who filled in admirably during the second half at the Etihad, is on high alert to start Sunday’s Matchday 29 fixture.
The Ukrainian has frequently stepped up during Courtois‘ previous injury spells, and his performance against City provided further reassurance.
🚨 BREAKING: Thibaut Courtois will undergo tests tomorrow. He is a serious doubt for the Madrid derby.
— @AlbertoPereiro pic.twitter.com/YSLaciqXbo
— Madrid Universal (@MadridUniversal) March 18, 2026
Oblak a doubt too
The goalkeeping crisis extends to the other side of the capital, as Jan Oblak will be unavailable for Atlético Madrid’s second leg against Tottenham Hotspur in the English capital on Wednesday night.
The Slovenian is nursing an injury to his side, a muscular strain that also kept him out of Saturday’s 1-0 LaLiga victory over Getafe. Reports suggest the injury will not heal in time for the visit to London, and he remains a serious doubt for Sunday’s derby at the Bernabéu.
With both teams potentially missing their first-choice shot-stoppers, the upcoming showdown between the cross-town rivals could see secondary goalkeepers Juan Musso and Andriy Lunin take centre stage.