Courtois misses April Clasico with flu as Madrid trail Barca by six

Back in April 2025, Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was ruled out of a crucial Clasico at Camp Nou hours before kickoff due to flu, with Ukrainian backup Andriy Lunin stepping in. Madrid, then third in La Liga and trailing Hansi Flick's unbeaten Barcelona by six points, also missed suspended winger Vinicius Junior for the title-defining fixture.

The last-minute withdrawal left Madrid's title hopes resting on Lunin, who had impressed in the Champions League quarterfinal win over Arsenal days earlier. Barcelona entered the match as league leaders with an unbeaten run under new manager Flick.

For Nigerian fans following La Liga, this was a pivotal moment in the 2024-25 title race—Madrid needed a win to stay in contention, while Barcelona aimed to extend their lead at the summit. The match outcome would shape the championship narrative for weeks.

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/10/25/real-madrids-courtois-out-of-clasico-with-flu/