Real Madrid: Thibaut Courtois makes major fitness declaration ahead of Arsenal Champions League clash

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·7 April 2025

Real Madrid: Thibaut Courtois makes major fitness declaration ahead of Arsenal Champions League clash

Real Madrid’s first-choice stopper is ready to return from injury for the huge showdown at the Emirates

Courtois has missed Real Madrid’s last three games due to injury, but he confirmed on Monday night he has shaken off the niggle.

The goalkeeper’s return is a huge boost for Real Madrid ahead of the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final at Emirates Stadium.

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Courtois missed Saturday’s game with Valencia and, in his absence, Real Madrid suffered a shock 2-1 defeat.

“I am fully fit,” said Courtois. “If I am going to start or not, you have to ask the manager! But I am fit and I feel good. It was not a big issue, so I could train in the gym and do my routines.

“I have been on the pitch for the last day, so I feel fine and 100 per cent - and hopefully I am ready to help the team tomorrow.

“I had a couple of injuries at the start of the season, but I think maybe I came back too early.

“I have been training, training well, I am in good shape. This was just a niggle and we did not want to take any risks, so we decided I would rest at the weekend and not play on Saturday.”

Real Madrid are the current Champions League holders and favourites ahead of Tuesday night’s game.

Arsenal, however, have been tipped to hurt Real Madrid by using set-pieces as the Spanish side have been vulnerable from them recently.

Real have conceded six goals from set-pieces this season in La Liga, which is just one more than in the past two campaigns combined.

We are ready to defend those set-pieces well. We have prepared for this game well

Thibaut Courtois

“We have been working on set-pieces, we know how we have to defend those set-pieces,” said Courtois. “Not conceding many corners, for example, would help. I think it is focus, being alert, but also Arsenal are good at set-pieces.

“But we are ready to defend those set-pieces well. We have prepared for this game well.

“We have a zonal defence. You can also look at sometimes defending man to man. Sometimes you get players setting screens, that is something we have got to look at also.

“And if they do foul, then obviously it’s a foul. But of course, if teams keep scoring from set-pieces, they can win games. Sometimes it is the difference between winning and losing.”