Overview
- The club said tests showed a muscle injury to the rectus femoris in Thibaut Courtois’ right quadriceps and that his recovery will be monitored.
- Multiple outlets, including ESPN and Spanish media, report an expected absence of around six weeks, with some estimates stretching to 6–8 weeks.
- Courtois will miss Sunday’s Madrid derby against Atlético and is widely expected to be out for both legs of the Champions League quarterfinal versus Bayern Munich.
- Andriy Lunin replaced Courtois at halftime against Manchester City and is set to assume goalkeeping duties during the Belgian’s layoff.
- Álvaro Arbeloa initially described the halftime change as precautionary, while Real Madrid enter the derby four points behind Barcelona in LaLiga.