Thibaut Courtois is out with gastroenteritis for the Olympiacos clash, as Real Madrid confirmed Tuesday that star goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois will miss the crucial UEFA Champions League match against the Greek side due to a viral stomach infection.
The Belgian shot-stopper, who has been a rock between the posts this season with eight clean sheets in 17 appearances, left training early at Valdebebas and will not travel to Athens, forcing manager Xabi Alonso to turn to deputy Andriy Lunin for the midweek fixture.
The news comes at a pivotal moment for Los Blancos, who sit top of La Liga but have stumbled in Europe, making this Group E encounter a must-win to secure a top-eight finish and avoid the February playoffs.
Club medics diagnosed Courtois with viral gastroenteritis after he abruptly departed the session before it even began, per reports from El Desmarque and Mundo Deportivo.
“Following an examination today by the Real Madrid Medical Services, Thibaut Courtois has been diagnosed with a viral gastrointestinal infection. He will not travel to Athens. Pending evolution,” read the official statement, underscoring the precautionary approach amid a gruelling schedule that includes a blockbuster La Liga trip to Elche this weekend and a looming Champions League showdown with Manchester City on December 10.
At 33, Courtois has been Madrid’s most consistent performer amid whispers of dressing-room discord, his absence a blow to Alonso’s backline already stretched thin by Dean Huijsen’s separate training withdrawal.
Lunin steps up, marking his first competitive minutes since May’s La Liga finale against Real Sociedad – a stark reminder of the Ukrainian’s heroics in last season’s Champions League run to the final, where he deputised during Courtois’ ACL tear recovery.
Lunin, 26, shone in those knockout ties but has warmed the bench this term, his last outing a preseason friendly. “Andriy is ready; he’s a world-class pro,” Alonso assured reporters post-training, though his furrowed brow betrayed the stakes.
Olympiacos, languishing in the group with just three points from four games, represent a slip-up Madrid can’t afford – especially after recent domestic draws against Rayo Vallecano and Elche that have invited title rivals to close the gap.
Courtois’ bout with gastroenteritis – nausea, vomiting, and dehydration from a stomach bug – strikes at an inopportune time, echoing his fragility that sidelined him for months last year with a knee ligament rupture.
The Belgian, who captained the side in his last outing, has conceded just 14 goals in La Liga while anchoring eight shutouts, his reflexes and command earning him the world’s best goalkeeper nod in recent Ballon d’Or whispers.
Teammates rallied around him Monday, with Vinicius Jr posting a supportive emoji storm on Instagram: “Get well soon, Tibo! We’ve got your back.” Fans, too, flooded social media with get-well memes blending Courtois’ iconic saves with soup bowls, one viral clip dubbing him “The Wall… with a stomach bug.”
This isn’t just a personnel hit; it’s a test of Madrid’s depth in a campaign marred by injury woes and tactical tweaks under Alonso. The ex-Leverkusen boss, whose unbeaten Bundesliga streak set tongues wagging, has rotated aggressively to manage fatigue, but Courtois’ irreplaceable presence – his 90% save rate tops Europe’s elite – leaves a void.
Lunin, no stranger to pressure, must channel his 2023-24 heroics, where penalties denied in shootouts propelled Madrid to glory. “I’ve prepared for this,” Lunin told reporters, his quiet demeanour masking the steel that saw him through Manchester City heartbreak.
For Alonso, the Olympiacos trip – Madrid’s first Greek league outing since a 2013 semifinal humbling – looms as redemption. The Reds lead Group E by two points, but a slip could drag them into playoff peril against sides like RB Leipzig or Atalanta.
Piraeus’ Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium, a cauldron of flares and chants, awaits, with Olympiacos desperate for points under new boss José Luis Mendilibar.
Madrid’s attack, led by a resurgent Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham’s midfield menace, should overwhelm, but defensive lapses – exposed in a recent Liverpool loss – invite peril without Courtois’ safety net.
As the squad jets to Athens Tuesday evening, Courtois being out with gastroenteritis for the Olympiacos clash underscores football’s cruel unpredictability.
With hydration packs in hand, Lunin eyes the net, ready to etch his name anew. For Madrid, nursing a star’s sickness means rallying reserves because in the Champions League’s unforgiving theatre, even a tummy bug can topple titans.
