This Wednesday, Actual Madrid will play a key match within the group stage of the 2025–26 UEFA Champions League in opposition to Olympiacos. A number of gamers will miss the sport on account of bodily points, together with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
“Following the examination performed in the present day by Actual Madrid Medical Companies on our participant, Thibaut Courtois, he has been identified with a gastrointestinal viral an infection. He’ll miss the journey to Athens,” the membership introduced Tuesday by an official assertion printed on its web site.
Actual Madrid didn’t present a restoration timeline for Courtois, although they clarified: “His progress can be monitored.” For Wednesday’s match in opposition to Olympiacos, the three goalkeepers referred to as up by Xabi Alonso are Andriy Lunin — who will tackle the beginning accountability — Fran Gonzalez, and Javi Navarro.
Courtois’ absence just isn’t the one concern for Actual Madrid forward of the Champions League fixture. Dean Huijsen will even be unavailable on account of knee points that bothered him throughout Sunday’s match in opposition to Elche and prevented him from coaching usually within the following days.
Actual Madrid’s defensive issues
Dean Huijsen and Thibaut Courtois are the most recent names added to an extended record of Actual Madrid gamers presently going through health points. Most of those issues are concentrated within the defensive position, leaving coach Xabi Alonso with very restricted choices.
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Within the squad record for this week’s journey to Greece, one uncommon element stands out: there is just one middle again, Raul Asencio. The opposite 4 gamers on the Actual Madrid roster who naturally play that place are all injured.
Together with Huijsen, the injured middle backs embody Eder Militao, David Alaba, and Antonio Rudiger. The latter is near returning to motion however not wholesome sufficient to compete this Wednesday. The harm record additionally contains one other defender — Dani Carvajal — and Franco Mastantuono.
Xabi Alonso’s choices to face Olympiacos
With Raul Asencio as the one pure middle again, Xabi Alonso should improvise when deciding the beginning lineup to face Olympiacos. The excellent news for the coach is that Aurelien Tchouameni is again after recovering from a hamstring harm.
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The French midfielder has performed as a middle again on a number of events, particularly throughout Carlo Ancelotti’s tenure, and seems to be the main choice to pair with Raul Asencio. Different options embody utilizing a fullback in that function, reminiscent of Ferland Mendy.
