Progress and possible return date for the Real Madrid goalkeeper

After suffering a hamstring injury against Borussia Dortmund, Thibaut Courtois will miss at least three of Real Madrid's upcoming games, including El Clásico.

Real Madrid's thrilling 5-2 comeback win in the Champions League against Dortmund was marred by an injury report from the club the following day. Courtois, who made several heroic saves to keep Carlo Ancelotti's men in the game, underwent tests on his left thigh after the game.

“Following tests carried out by the Real Madrid medical service on our player Thibaut Courtois, he was diagnosed with an adductor injury in his left leg. His progress will be monitored,” Real Madrid said in a statement.

Courtois suffered a similar hamstring injury during the Madrid derby on September 29, forcing him to miss Real Madrid's games against Lille and Villarreal before the international break in October. The goalkeeper only returned for two games before having to return to the sidelines.

Here's the latest on Courtois' injury.

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Although Real Madrid did not give a timetable for Courtois' return, it is expected that the goalkeeper will again be out for two to three weeks. If the Belgian's recovery continues, he will not return until after the international break in November.

Los Blancos will be without Courtois in El Clásico, the biggest game of the La Liga season. Real Madrid need to take at least a point from Barcelona to keep the pressure on Hansi Flick's side at the top of the table, and without Courtois it will be that much harder to stop Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Lamine Yamal.

Courtois is also likely to miss Real Madrid's La Liga game against Valencia on November 2nd and the team's next Champions League game against AC Milan on November 5th. If Courtois cannot return within two weeks, he will also be sidelined against Osasuna on November 9th.

Despite suffering a minor setback, the goalkeeper is expected to be back in action after the November international break for Real Madrid's game against Leganes on November 24th.

Andriy Lunin will act as Courtois' replacement. The Ukrainian has already made two appearances for Los Blancos this season, keeping a clean sheet against Villarreal, which was Real Madrid's only one in eight games. In fact, the only goal Lunin conceded across 180 minutes came from a penalty against Lille.

Lunin is no stranger to filling in for Courtois; The 25-year-old was Ancelotti's No. 1 for most of last season as Courtois recovered from a cruciate ligament injury. Lunin famously saved two penalties against Manchester City, taking Real Madrid to the semi-finals of the 2023/24 Champions League.

Although no one can really replace Courtois, Lunin is as reliable as they are between the posts.

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