Actual Madrid enters its Champions League journey to Greece with one unsettling storyline hanging over the build-up: Thibaut Courtois is just not taking part in in opposition to Olympiacos, and the timing couldn’t be worse for a facet nonetheless looking for rhythm after a tough run. Olympiacos, in the meantime, faces the Spanish big with a combination of urgency and alternative, hoping its intimidating residence environment will once more unsettle a customer that has by no means crushed it on Greek soil.
The main focus within the early hours of matchday is cut up in two instructions—how Actual Madrid responds to home stress, and what’s really behind Courtois’ sudden disappearance from the squad. The membership has traveled with a line of defense held collectively by improvisation, and the goalkeeper state of affairs provides one more layer of uncertainty.
The Greek champion arrives with solely two factors in its Champions League marketing campaign to date, but the sensation contained in the Karaiskakis Stadium is much from hopeless. Olympiacos has by no means misplaced to the Whites at residence, drawing thrice and profitable as soon as, and enters this conflict having received 4 of its final 5 video games in all competitions. Individually, Daniel Podence guarantees to be the spark that threatens a Madrid defence lacking virtually all of its pure centre-backs.
For a membership battling to outlive in Europe, this match is nothing wanting a remaining. Lose right here, and the season’s continental chapter might successfully finish. Then again, Actual Madrid, ninth within the 36-team Champions League league-phase desk, has been equally determined to appropriate its personal trajectory. After defeats and attracts in latest matches—in opposition to Liverpool, Rayo Vallecano, and Elche—the league leaders in Spain are out of the blue wobbling. Xabi Alonso’s selections are being scrutinized on all fronts, from ways to personnel administration.
And as soon as once more, his facet enters a European night time held collectively by patches. Militao, Alaba, Rüdiger, Carvajal, and Huijsen are all unavailable, leaving Raul Asencio as the one pure centre-back. New roles should be invented for Aurélien Tchouameni and Trent Alexander-Arnold simply to type a purposeful again line. The distraction surrounding Courtois’ absence—saved obscure in early reporting—has solely intensified the scrutiny.
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The reality behind Courtois’ absence
Solely within the hours earlier than departure did the membership affirm the reality: Thibaut Courtois was dominated out after struggling a viral gastrointestinal an infection, a sudden sickness that compelled him to desert coaching at Valdebebas. “He has been identified with viral gastroenteritis… he will likely be unavailable for the journey to Athens,” Los Blancos defined in an official medical replace launched Tuesday morning.
This was not a relaxation determination, nor rotation, nor tactical planning. The reason being merely sickness, nevertheless it arrives at a second when Madrid can least afford uncertainty. Backup goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, who has not performed a single minute this season, now steps into probably the most hostile stadium in Greece.
The timing of Courtois’ setback couldn’t be worse. Actual Madrid has not received in its final seven away matches on Greek soil—zero victories, two attracts, 5 defeats—and faces an opponent that traditionally thrives at residence in European competitors.
