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Courtois Out Six Weeks, Lunin to Start for Real Madrid

3/20/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois will be sidelined for six weeks with a thigh injury sustained in a Champions League match against Manchester City.
Further tests confirmed a right quadriceps muscle injury, ruling him out of the Madrid derby against Atletico.
Andriy Lunin, Real Madrid's backup goalkeeper, will start in his absence.
He will miss both legs of the Champions League quarter-finals against Bayern Munich.

History

Historical Context

The 2018 UEFA Champions League final, held on May 26 in Kyiv, saw Real Madrid defeat Liverpool 3-1, marking Madrid's 13th title and third consecutive win. Key injuries, including Mohamed Salah's shoulder injury from a tackle by Sergio Ramos, shifted the match dynamics, reflecting how injuries can impact team strategies and fan expectations in high-stakes tournaments.

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Story summary

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois will be sidelined for six weeks with a thigh injury sustained in a Champions League match against Manchester City.
Further tests confirmed a right quadriceps muscle injury, ruling him out of the Madrid derby against Atletico.
Andriy Lunin, Real Madrid's backup goalkeeper, will start in his absence.
He will miss both legs of the Champions League quarter-finals against Bayern Munich.

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