With goalkeeper Courtois sidelined for a month and a half, Real Madrid are facing uncertainty heading into the derby against Atletico and the Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich.
The worry is that Courtois is not there.
Bad news for Real Madrid just before the derby against Atletico (3:00 AM on March 23rd): Thibaut Courtois has torn the anterior rectus muscle of his right quadriceps, and may be out of action for a month and a half.
The pain Courtois felt during the warm-up before the second leg of the round of 16 match against Man City turned out to be a more serious injury than initially thought, according to Real Madrid's preliminary assessment.
He felt pain in his right thigh while preparing to play, but still thought he could play. However, after the half-time break, he had to stay in the dressing room and Andriy Lunin came in as a substitute.
Initially, Real Madrid stated that the Belgian goalkeeper only had an overload in his right adductor muscle, and the situation was not too serious after preliminary tests.
Despite facing some issues, Courtois still made four saves in the first half at the Etihad, including one particularly outstanding one. In the 26th minute, Erling Haaland had a close-range shot after a through ball from Doku, but Courtois made a superb reflex save with his foot.
He helped Real Madrid withstand the intense pressure from Pep Guardiola's team in the early stages of the match.
This brilliance disrupted the English team's plans, paving the way for a 2-1 victory for "Los Blancos" – with a brace from Vinicius Junior.
At the time, the situation didn't seem serious, as Alvaro Arbeloa shared after the match: "Courtois was a little upset. He wanted to continue playing, but we didn't need to take any risks because there were only four days left until another final, a very important derby."
The final match that Arbeloa was referring to was the Madrid derby against Atletico Madrid at the Bernabeu, a battle that would decide Real Madrid's chances of competing for the La Liga title with Barcelona – with Real Madrid currently trailing by 4 points.
Courtois' value
Real Madrid's medical team waited approximately 36 hours to accurately assess the extent of the injury and conducted tests yesterday (March 19). The results showed that Courtois suffered a serious muscle tear.
Not only was he absent from the derby, but the 33-year-old goalkeeper also had to watch from the sidelines for both Champions League quarter-final matches – where Real Madrid faced Bayern Munich.
The Champions League quarter-finals take place early next month, after the international break. This is a real problem for Real Madrid, as Bayern Munich are a high-quality team and considered a contender for the title.
The German football giants scored 32 goals in the Champions League this season, second only to PSG (34 goals). They lead the tournament in goals scored inside the penalty area – with 29 goals. Furthermore, all 10 of Harry Kane's goals in European competitions have come from within the 16-yard box.
Courtois' importance to Real Madrid is undeniable, even during the team's struggles under Xabi Alonso and Arbeloa.
Courtois has 56 saves in the Champions League, second only to Haikin (68) of the phenomenon Bodo/Glimt, who were eliminated after losing to Sporting Lisbon 0-5.
Not only that, Courtois is also a crucial playmaker for Real Madrid. He plays further forward than in previous seasons and has provided two assists in the Champions League.
His latest assist was for Federico Valverde in the first leg of the round of 16, leading to the opening goal and Man City's collapse at the Bernabeu. He currently holds the record for the most assists in Champions League history with 3.
Jude Bellingham is returning to bolster midfield and attack options, but with Courtois only expected to recover from the Champions League semi-final at the earliest, Real Madrid's ambitions are being challenged.