Real Madrid will not be able to count on Thibaut Courtois for the next month and a half. The goalkeeper is suffering from "a muscle injury in the anterior rectus of the right quadriceps," as announced by the club in a statement, and will miss a crucial phase of the season.
The Belgian will not return until May and will miss the La Liga matches against Atlético de Madrid, Mallorca, Girona, Alavés, and Betis; as well as the Champions League quarter-final tie against Bayern Munich.
Courtois felt discomfort on Tuesday during the warm-up before the match played by the white team against Manchester City at the Etihad. The Belgian played the first half, but at halftime, he remained on the bench, and Lunin took over the goal in the second half.
Although initially the club mentioned it was a strain, on Thursday, tests confirmed a more severe injury, and his condition is "pending evolution."
Courtois' absence presents an opportunity for Lunin, who has only played in four matches this season: against Olympiacos and Manchester City in the Champions League, and against Talavera de la Reina and Albacete in the Copa del Rey.
This Sunday, he will get his first minutes in La Liga, in a high-pressure scenario, in the derby against Atlético de Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu (9:00 pm). A rival that the Ukrainian has faced four times, with a record of three losses and one draw.