What Ancelotti had suspected all week was confirmed 48 hours before “El Clasico’. Courtois, the hero of the last Champions League final in Paris, has not managed to recover. The Belgian goalkeeper, who has been suffering from sciatic nerve pain since the end of last month, has not been able to train with his teammates, being eventually ruled out for the duel against the Azulgranas.
MARCA reported yesterday that the injury has not progressed at the expected speed and that his participation depended on the feelings the footballer would have today, after waking up. Finally, all parties have chosen to be conservative and not accelerate his return, which could have negative consequences for the future. Thus, it will be Lunin who will defend the goal of Real Madrid in the first “El Clasico” of the season. The Ukrainian goalkeeper has played the last four games for the Whites, both against Shakhtar in the Champions League and against Getafe and Osasuna in La Liga. “El Clasico” turns out to be an impossible mission for Courtois, as neither the goalkeeper nor Real Madrid set a deadline for his return. The evolution will be seen day by day and when it is 100 percent, the Belgian will take his place again among the pillars of “Los Blancos”. Until today, he has been working every day with the physiotherapists in Valdebebas, also doing work in the gym and swimming pools.
Rüdiger, for his part, seems to be ready for the super challenge with Barcelona. Three days after playing against Shakhtar and taking that blow to the head that cost him 20 stitches, the German took to the field in his boots to train vwith his teammates. Withouta mask, with a bandage covering the wound and with his eyes much more recovered, the quarterback is taking all the steps to get on the call-up list.