Real Madrid face goalkeeping crisis before Arsenal game

Real Madrid could be without both senior goalkeepers when they face Arsenal, with Andriy Lunin suffering a muscle tear and Thibaut Courtois still unfit.

MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 06: (L-R) Andriy Lunin, Thibaut Courtois and Diego Altube of Real Madrid enter the pitch for their warm up prior to the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final match between Real Madrid and Liverpool FC at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano on April 06, 2021 in Madrid, Spain. Sporting stadiums around Spain remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images) — Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

Real Madrid are facing a severe goalkeeping crisis just days before their Champions League quarter-final first leg against Arsenal, with both senior options in serious doubt.

According to Friday’s edition of AS, Andriy Lunin has suffered a tear to his right calf muscle and is almost certainly ruled out, while Thibaut Courtois, still recovering from persistent knee issues, remains short of match fitness and has not yet returned to full training.

Alarm at the goal Lunin suffers a tear in the right soleus and is practically ruled out Courtois is still not 100% of the knee AS (Aragón)4 Apr 2025 No goalkeepers. This is how Real Madrid is one day away from hosting Valencia. Courtois is still in the infirmary and yesterday, Lunin was admitted. Alarms are on. And of a blood-red color. Because Andriy suffers a rupture in the right soleus. The club has not yet ruled him out for tomorrow (16:15 hours, DAZN), because he will not be resounding until today, when he will undergo a test at the Valdebebas facilities. But there really is little to prove. And it is that medical sources assure that he has it impossible: to play, he would have to infiltrate. And that would carry a noticeable risk of the injury getting worse. Such is the matter, that the possibility of Lunin being about three weeks off flies over. It all started against Real Sociedad, around the 51st minute: he felt a puncture, played touched and ended up with discomfort. He knew something wasn't right, but he wanted to finish the game. The day before yesterday, on the day off, he was still in pain and yesterday, the tests confirmed it: he suffers a tear. At the end of this edition, the chances that the goalkeeper against Valencia will be Fran González are very high. The giant of Castile. But it's not final yet. What's the matter with Courtois? That is the first of the issues. It should be remembered that just over a year ago (March 19, 2024, a couple of weeks before the tie against Manchester City) the meniscus in his right knee, the ‘healthy’ one, ruptured. After recovering from a torn left cruciate ligament, affecting the meniscus... he injured his other leg. Something that tends to be common in medicine, because in the rehabilitation of this type of injury there is almost always a propensity to load the ‘good’ leg, causing overloads and, sometimes, injuries. That happened to him. And that's partly what's holding him back at the moment. There are several months in which his right knee becomes inflamed. When you put it under a lot of load, a slight discomfort arises and, above all, a bulky swelling. But to this has been added a muscular overload in the lower part, between the patellar – he has improved, but it is the reason why he fell out of the call before the Injury Lunin noticed a puncture on the 51’ of the match against Real Rayo Vallecano, for example - and the twin - is still limping, after the rupture of a cyst and the spillage of a liquid that his body does not finish cleaning–. The issue has led the club to recommend that he spend some time standing, undergoing physiotherapy and strengthening the zone in the gym. A few weeks of rehabilitation. And in those it continues. Courtois could play tomorrow, but it would involve risk and, above all, he is prioritized for the Emirates. That's the goal, to be in London. So his presence against Valencia is practically ruled out. Although it has not yet been decided 100%. Because as the scenario has been set, he begins to weigh the possibility of ’forcing'. To return early. But it's not decided about Lunin either. Before the extra time of the Cup match he quickly requested the assistance of a physiotherapist, suffering from a discomfort in the lower part of the right twin. In hot, it seemed like an overload. And he was able to finish. But once the match was over, it was detected that there was something more. The day before yesterday, on the team's day off, he conveyed that the pain was continuing and yesterday it was confirmed that there is a tear in the right soleus. His presence against Valencia is not ruled out, but it is practically impossible. Infiltration is being considered. The roadmap is that today it will be tested in Valdebebas (the team trains at 16:00h, after Ancelotti appears, who will speak to the media at 15:15h) and there, a final decision will be made. But the feeling is that none will be available. Lunin, almost certainly not. And Courtois... assuming a slight risk of injury three days before visiting Arsenal. A panorama that invites the team to re-invoke the spirit of becoming strong in the face of adversity. A classic. The lower you go, the more motivation to do something great. Reality is what it is. Ancelotti, a few hours after hosting Valencia, is without goalkeepers. ... Both will be tested this afternoon, in the last training — AS 4 April 2025 – Alarm in the goal

The situation escalated after Lunin reported pain during Madrid’s recent league match against Real Sociedad, playing on after feeling a sharp twinge around the 51st minute. Though he finished the game, the discomfort persisted, and tests on Thursday confirmed a muscle tear.

Club doctors estimate that Lunin could be sidelined for up to three weeks, and the idea of a painkilling injection, which has been suggested, carries a high risk of worsening the injury. According to medical sources, “he would have to be injected to play. And that carries a notable risk of the injury worsening.”

Meanwhile, Courtois continues to deal with complications following two major knee injuries within the past year.

MADRID, SPAIN - MARCH 04: Thibaut Courtois of Real Madrid salutes fans prior to the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 first leg match between Real Madrid C.F. and Atletico de Madrid at on March 04, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images) — Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images

After initially recovering from a torn ACL in his left knee, he later suffered a meniscus injury in his right knee – the “healthy” leg that was overloaded during rehabilitation.

Since then, Courtois has been battling intermittent swelling, discomfort, and muscular issues in the lower leg, including a ruptured cyst that has caused lingering fluid buildup.

He has not played since and remains on an extended recovery programme involving physiotherapy and strength conditioning.

MADRID, SPAIN - MARCH 12: Thibaut Courtois of Real Madrid catches the ball whilst under pressure from Reinildo Mandava of Atletico de Madrid during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 second leg match between Atletico de Madrid and Real Madrid C.F. at Riyadh Air Metropolitano on March 12, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images) — Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images

While there remains a slim chance Courtois could return to face Valencia this weekend, the club’s focus is reportedly on having him available for the trip to the Emirates Stadium.

A final decision on both goalkeepers is expected following Madrid’s last training session on Friday, but the signs are pessimistic.

At present, 19-year-old Fran González, the Castilla goalkeeper, is the most likely starter for the weekend and could be forced to continue into the Champions League. Known for his aerial dominance and calm presence, he joined from Cultural Leonesa in 2022 and has quietly risen through the academy ranks. His idol is Courtois. Now, he may be called to replace him.