Courtois Subbed Off as Real Madrid Lead Manchester City in Champions League Drama

Real Madrid supporters were left holding their breath on Tuesday night at the Etihad Stadium, as Thibaut Courtois—Los Blancos’ trusted last line of defense—was unexpectedly substituted at halftime during the Champions League Round of 16 second leg against Manchester City. While the scoreboard showed Real Madrid in a commanding position, leading 4-1 on aggregate after an eventful first half, Courtois’ exit injected a note of uncertainty into an otherwise dominant European campaign.

The Belgian goalkeeper, who has been a rock for Madrid in high-stakes matches, was replaced by long-time backup Andriy Lunin at the break. The sudden switch raised eyebrows immediately, especially as Courtois had not appeared to suffer any dramatic injury during the opening 45 minutes. In fact, he’d been in fine form, making crucial saves from Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Rodri Hernandez to preserve Madrid’s three-goal cushion from the first leg. But as halftime approached, the alarm bells rang—literally and figuratively—when Lunin was seen warming up on the sidelines.

So, what happened to Courtois? According to multiple reports from Spanish outlets including Movistar and Onda Cero, Courtois began experiencing discomfort in his right adductor—a group of muscles at the top of the thigh—during the first half. There’s more: he’d reportedly been battling a lingering hamstring strain throughout the week, entering the second leg with fitness concerns already hanging over his head. Marca later confirmed the change was prompted by a hamstring strain, while initial assessments described the issue as muscle overload rather than a serious tear or long-term setback.

Spanish television broadcaster Movistar reported, "Courtois was suffering from an issue with his right adductor." Meanwhile, Onda Cero echoed that the veteran keeper "appeared to aggravate a overloaded right abductor during the first half at the Etihad Stadium." The consensus among these reports is clear: Courtois’ halftime exit was a precautionary measure, designed to protect him from exacerbating the injury and potentially facing a long spell on the sidelines. As one source put it, "Initial reports suggest that the Belgian goalkeeper is not suffering from a serious injury, but merely an overload, and thus he was substituted as a precautionary measure."

Real Madrid’s head coach Alvaro Arbeloa wasted no time in making the call, pulling Courtois at halftime and sending in Lunin for his first appearance since mid-January. While some fans may have been nervous seeing the Ukrainian between the posts, Lunin wasted little time settling nerves. He looked "confident and secure when he came on, making a couple of early saves in the second half," according to Yahoo Sports. Lunin, who has made 66 appearances for Los Blancos, has often been called upon in cup matches and when Courtois is unavailable. This season, his outings have been sporadic—twice in the Copa del Rey and once in the Champions League against Olympiakos, where he helped Madrid to a 4-3 win. However, Lunin’s record in 2025/26 has been mixed, conceding eight goals in three appearances before this high-pressure return.

Despite the drama surrounding Courtois’ injury, the first half gave Madridistas plenty to cheer about. Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva was sent off for a deliberate handball, handing Real Madrid a penalty. Vinicius Junior coolly converted, putting Madrid firmly in the driver’s seat for the tie. With a comfortable aggregate lead and a man advantage, Arbeloa’s side looked well on their way to the quarterfinals—though the loss of their primary "guardian" between the posts cast a sudden shadow over their ambitions.

For Courtois, the timing of the injury couldn’t be worse. Not only was he "all but ruled out of the derby after injury against Manchester City," as reported by Yahoo Sports, but Real Madrid now face the prospect of entering their high-profile La Liga showdown with Atletico Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu without their No. 1. Marca has indicated that Courtois "will undergo tests on Wednesday morning to confirm the injury," but it is "all but confirmed that he is out of their Sunday night show-stopper." The silver lining? An international break follows the derby, giving Courtois a two-week window to recover before the final quarter of the season kicks into gear. If the injury is minor, he could be back in 7-10 days; a more severe strain would complicate Madrid’s fixture list in April.

For now, Real Madrid must place their trust in Lunin, who is "tipped to leave the club at the end of the season" but remains the man for the moment. Fran Gonzalez will serve as the alternative backup on Sunday. Arbeloa, for his part, will be hoping that Lunin’s experience and composure can bridge the gap until Courtois is fit to return. With the club still alive on multiple fronts—fighting for both domestic and European glory—any extended absence for Courtois would be a massive hurdle to clear.

It’s worth noting that this latest setback is not a repeat of the devastating knee injury that kept Courtois sidelined last season. According to Bolavip, "Courtois has avoided a repeat of the devastating knee injury that sidelined him last season. While his previous absence was a long-term recovery battle, today’s halftime exit was reportedly a precautionary move due to muscle overload in his right abductor." That distinction will provide some comfort to Madrid fans, who know all too well the impact of losing their star shot-stopper for an extended stretch.

As for Courtois, the next 48 hours will be crucial. He’s "expected to undergo detailed medical examinations upon the team's return to Madrid, in order to determine the nature of the injury and the potential duration of his absence, amid concerns within the club ahead of upcoming commitments," as reported by YS Scores. Should the tests reveal only a minor strain, optimism will return quickly. But until then, all eyes remain on the medical updates—and on Lunin, who now shoulders the responsibility of keeping Real Madrid’s season on track.

With a three-goal aggregate cushion and a man advantage, Real Madrid’s Champions League ambitions remain alive and kicking. But as the team looks ahead to the Madrid derby and beyond, the fitness of Thibaut Courtois is the story that everyone in the Spanish capital—and across Europe—will be watching closely.