Real Madrid are sweating over the fitness of both Federico Valverde and Thibaut Courtois after a grueling trip to Rayo Vallecano’s home ground which has been swiftly dubbed the “Battle of Vallecas” by Spanish media.
Xabi Alonso’s table-topping visitors could find no way through the meaty rearguard of their hosts, settling for a 0–0 draw which saw them fail to score for the second match in succession following Tuesday night’s Champions League defeat to Liverpool.
Absurdly premature talk of crisis is already in the air in the Spanish capital and the mood won’t have been lifted by injuries to a pair of Alonso’s most trusted starters.
For the second time this week, Valverde was forced off in obvious discomfort. “I don’t know if it was something muscular or some movement I made that hurt,” the battling Uruguayan told reporters after he limped off against Liverpool. Valverde was cleared to start this weekend yet once again wound up clutching his hamstring as he was replaced by Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Thibaut Courtois finished the match but did not come through the bruising experience unscathed. Madrid’s talismanic goalkeeper, whose eight saves against Liverpool singlehandedly helped his team avoid humiliation, suffered a “slight strain” in his right thigh, according to . The severity of this muscular issue has been played down, though it remains to be seen when the 33-year-old is risked again.
Madrid aren’t back in action until traveling to the home of an entertaining Elche side on Sunday, Nov. 23. Both Valverde and Courtois, however, have been called up by their national teams for this month’s set of fixtures, with extensive travel required for both.
Valverde’s Uruguay face a pair of friendlies against World Cup co-hosts Mexico and the U.S. on the other side of the Atlantic. Courtois will remain in Europe for Belgium’s World Cup qualifiers, but is staring down the barrel of a 5,600-mile round trip to Astana, Kazakhstan should he be selected.
International Details
Federico Valverde
Thibaut Courtois
Games
2
2
Opponents
Mexico, U.S.
Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein
Competition
Friendly
World Cup qualifier
