The Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has returned to action after a bout of sciatica that sidelined him for Real Madrid’s final six matches. The coaching staff and medical team moved quickly to assess his condition, and the latest update confirms that his recovery moved forward with positive signs during this week. The decision to bring him back followed careful monitoring by the club’s medical professionals and the Italian head coach Carlo Ancelotti, who oversaw the plan to reintegrate Courtois into the squad.
Courtois had not played since the end of September, and his absence was felt as the team navigated a demanding period. The latest developments indicate that his condition has improved, and he is now a new addition to the roster. In what was described as a gradual return, the goalkeeper’s progress has prompted the coaching staff to consider his match readiness as training continues. In parallel, Lucas Cañizares has been integrated into the youth ranks as part of the club’s long term planning and depth strategy.
The broader Real Madrid squad remains largely consistent with the group that faced a tough test against Elche in the previous midweek, a match that concluded with unfortunate results for the team. Dani Ceballos continues to deal with a muscle issue, while Mariano Diaz is managing afoot problem after a heavy impact. The medical and training staff are carefully mapping out short term workloads to minimize risk as the season intensifies.
The summoned list for the squad reflects a robust mix of experience and depth across all units. In the goalkeeping department, Courtois is joined by Lunin and Luis López, providing solid cover as the team navigates a busy schedule. In defense, a lineup featuring Dani Carvajal, Lucas Odriozola, Eder Militao, David Alaba, Jesus Vallejo, Nacho, Antonio Rüdiger, and Ferland Mendy offers a blend of stability and versatility to respond to different tactical demands.
Midfield responsibilities are shared among talented options such as Aurelien Tchouameni, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Eduardo Camavinga, Federico Valverde, and Lucas Vazquez. This core has the balance of defensive grit and creative spark necessary to control midfield battles and drive constructive attacks from deep positions. In the attacking line, a blend of experience and youth is visible with the presence of Eden Hazard, Marco Asensio, Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, and Karim Benzema, who collectively provide a wide array of scoring and playmaking threats.
Real Madrid continues to monitor injuries across the squad while staying focused on performance in league and continental fixtures. The coaching staff remains committed to maintaining high standards of fitness, tactical discipline, and squad rotation to sustain momentum. The return of Courtois is viewed as a positive development that could bolster goalkeeping stability and team confidence as they press forward in an ambitious campaign. The club will issue further updates as training resumes and decisions on lineups are finalized for upcoming fixtures. Attribution: Official club communications and subsequent medical briefings.