Key Takeaways:
- Real Madrid secured a 5-1 aggregate victory over Manchester City to advance to the Champions League quarter-finals
- Thibaut Courtois has suffered a quadriceps muscle tear and is expected to be unavailable for around one and a half months
- Courtouis will miss at least seven matches, including both legs against Bayern Munich and the upcoming Madrid derby
Injury Setback Dampens Madrid’s European Progress
Real Madrid’s emphatic 5-1 aggregate win against Manchester City secured their place in the Champions League quarter-finals, but the outcome was overshadowed by the loss of their first-choice goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, to a serious muscle injury. The Belgian was substituted as a precaution and replaced by Andriy Lunin, with initial hopes that he might be fit for Sunday’s Madrid derby against Atletico Madrid. However, further assessment revealed a more significant issue.
🚨🚑 | 𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐈𝐍: Thibaut Courtois has suffered a muscular injury and is set to be OUT for SIX WEEKS. ❌
He will miss both ties against Bayern Munich. 😟
[@AranchaMOBILE] pic.twitter.com/efLDenvxiy
— MatchdayHQ (@TheMatchdayHQ) March 19, 2026
Diagnosis and Expected Absence
Although no tests were carried out on Wednesday and Courtois was initially told to rest, subsequent evaluations confirmed a muscle tear. Cadena Cope reported that Courtois is facing around six weeks on the sidelines, which will see him miss both quarter-final clashes with Bayern Munich. Real Madrid confirmed the injury is located in his quadriceps but have not provided additional specifics. The severity is believed to indicate a grade two hamstring tear.
Fixtures Courtois Will Miss
Courtois is projected to be unavailable for a minimum of seven upcoming fixtures spanning both La Liga and the Champions League, with the possibility of this number increasing to eight or nine depending on the club’s European campaign progress. His absence begins with this Sunday’s Madrid derby against Atletico Madrid at the Bernabeu. The subsequent schedule features a mixture of league and Champions League matches, as detailed below.
| Fixture | Competition |
|---|---|
| Atletico Madrid (H) | La Liga |
| RCD Mallorca (A) | La Liga |
| Bayern Munich (H) | Champions League |
| Girona (H) | La Liga |
| Bayern Munich (A) | Champions League |
| Alaves (H) | La Liga |
| Real Betis (A) | La Liga |
Potential Return Window for Courtois
Should Real Madrid progress to the Champions League semi-finals, Courtois remains a major doubt for at least the first leg, which could be against either Paris Saint-Germain or Liverpool. Nonetheless, should his recovery proceed on schedule, he may return for the La Liga clash against Espanyol at the RCDE Stadium in May, and is likely to be fit for the high-profile encounter with Barcelona at Camp Nou over the weekend of the 10th of May.
