'FIFA virus' attacks Real Madrid

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois suffered an injury during the warm-up and was forced to miss the 3-0 victory against Ukraine in the Nations League on the morning of March 24th.

Courtois was absent from the second leg against Ukraine. Photo: Reuters .

Goal reports that Courtois suffered a muscle injury and was advised by the Belgian medical team not to play against Ukraine. Coach Rudi Garcia decided not to take any risks and fielded second-choice goalkeeper Matz Sels in the starting lineup against Ukraine. Romelu Lukaku's brace secured a 3-0 home victory for Belgium.

The extent of Courtois' injury is currently unknown. The goalkeeper will return to Real Madrid for a full examination. His participation in the match against Leganes on March 30th remains uncertain. Losing Courtois would be a significant blow for Real Madrid during this crucial stage of the season.

Previously, Courtois was also unable to participate in the La Liga match against Rayo Vallecano on March 9th due to a muscle injury. Fans are concerned that Courtois' injury has recurred.

This season, Courtois also suffered a muscle tear in the Madrid derby in October 2024. This injury forced him to miss several matches in the Champions League and La Liga, including the 0-4 defeat against Barcelona.

After a long absence from the Belgian national team, Courtois has officially returned but has not had a smooth start. His debut match ended in a 1-3 defeat against Ukraine in the first leg. Now, he is once again sidelined by injury.

If Courtois is forced to miss matches, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti still has backup goalkeeper Andriy Lunin at his disposal, who performed very well when Courtois was sidelined last season.

Vinicius's solo effort: On the night of March 9th, Vinicius scored after a dazzling display of skill amidst a swarm of defenders, helping Real Madrid win 2-1 against Rayo Vallecano.