Real Madrid will visit Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium for the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals in what has been a rollercoaster stretch for the Spanish giants. But heading into Tuesday’s matchup, the club is set to receive a major boost with a key player back from injury.
The past few weeks have been somewhat inconsistent for Los Blancos, including a shocking 2-1 home defeat to 15th-placed Valencia. The result sparked frustration among fans, especially as the team enters the most critical phase of the season. However, there’s good news: Thibaut Courtois is back.
During Monday’s pre-match press conference, Courtois confirmed he has recovered and is available for selection against Arsenal. When asked about his physical condition, the Belgian goalkeeper addressed the recent issue that had kept him sidelined:
“I’m fine, it was just a small issue—something day-to-day. But I’ve had several training sessions now. It’s time to switch focus to the Champions League and play a good game against a strong opponent,” Courtois said. The keeper missed Real Madrid’s last three games due to muscle fatigue following international duty with Belgium, but he assured he’s fit and ready to return.
“I had two injuries at the start of the season that were in the adductor. After that, I’ve been fine, and this was a minor thing, more of a day-to-day issue. To avoid taking risks before important matches, we preferred to wait and play tomorrow instead of Saturday,” he explained.
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However, Courtois left the final decision on his starting status up to Carlo Ancelotti: “You have to ask the coach if I’ll start, but I’m ready. I’ve been working in the gym and on the field these past few days—I’m ready to play,” he concluded.
Courtois, a vital piece in Real Madrid’s Champions League puzzle
Carlo Ancelotti has long trusted Courtois as his go-to goalkeeper. That confidence was on full display last season when the Belgian started in the Champions League final despite being sidelined for most part of the season due to a severe ACL injury.
So far in the 2024-25 campaign, Courtois has appeared in 37 matches, with Real Madrid losing just five of them. In contrast, the team has dropped four of the eight matches he’s missed in La Liga and Champions League play—highlighting just how crucial his presence is between the posts.
