Thibaut Courtois injury latest after missing Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich | Football

Thibaut Courtois has missed Real Madrid’s Champions League match against Bayern Munich due to a thigh injury.

The Belgium international was forced off at half time during Madrid’s 2-1 win against Manchester City in the Champions League last-16 at the Etihad Stadium last month.

Courtois subsequently missed Madrid’s 3-2 win over Atletico Madrid in La Liga, as well as their 2-1 defeat away to Mallorca last Saturday.

Andriy Lunin has deputised for Madrid in Courtois’ absence and has been handed his third start in a row for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie against Bayern Munich on Tuesday night.

After suffering his injury in the victory against City on March 17, Courtois was ruled out for around six weeks.

A statement from Madrid read: ‘Following tests carried out today on our player Thibaut Courtois by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with a muscle injury in the rectus femoris of his right quadriceps. His recovery will be monitored.’

Meanwhile, Alvaro Arbeloa insists he has the ‘utmost confidence’ in Lunin’s ability to replace Courtois.

‘We haven’t set any deadlines,’ Arbeloa said before Madrid’s win over Atletico when asked about Courtois’ return from injury.

‘The two-week break will help us a lot, and we’ll see after that. Right now, we’re not setting a deadline.

‘There are risks involved every time I put a player on the field. There are many things people don’t know, but few players go onto the field at 100 per cent without any discomfort. It’s normal in competition.

‘Thibaut wanted to keep playing at half-time, and it was me who decided to stop him because of the utmost confidence I have in Lunin. He’s a great goalkeeper, and he’s going to prove it. Here, the best goalkeeper in history gets injured, and we have another one.’

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