Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois picked up an ACL injury during pre-season last August and was in line to make a return in March 2024. But the Belgian suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee which required surgery.
He was ruled out for the remainder of the campaign but made a surprise comeback last weekend against Cadiz and produced a comfortable clean sheet in his side’s 3-0 win.
Will Thibaut Courtois make his first Champions League start of the season against Bayern Munich?
The Belgian goalkeeper has made a quick recovery from his second surgery and made his first start of the year in Real Madrid’s emphatic 3-0 win over Cadiz. But Andriy Lunin has stepped up in Courtois’ absence impressing with his 12 clean sheets across 29 games in all competitions.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that Lunin would be in between the sticks for the Champions League semi-final return leg against Bayern Munich.
“Lunin will play if I don’t change my mind tonight. Yes, Lunin will play. The plan for a player who returns after such a big injury does not change due to one situation.
“Thibaut has played because he was very good and now he will have to take his time to reach his best version. The plan did not change because of the Cadiz game. He played an optimal game, but he has to reach his best level.”