Real Madrid confirm travelling squad for Arsenal clash as Thibaut Courtois returns in huge injury boost | OneFootball

The goalkeeper has missed the last three games but is flying to London

Back: Thibaut Courtois

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Real Madrid have been handed a major boost after goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was named in the travelling squad for Tuesday’s Champions League showdown with Arsenal.

Andriy Lunin has stepped up in the Belgian’s absence, but he missed Saturday’s defeat to Valencia due to a leg injury.

Real Madrid were forced to play Fran Gonzalez, who is only 19, in goal and they lost 2-1 to Valencia.

Lunin will not be fit in time to face Arsenal, however Courtois has been named in the Real Madrid squad travelling to London on Monday morning. Madrid trained in Spain on Sunday and Courtois took part in the session.

Boss Carlo Ancleotti is without several first-team players, though, and they include Aurelien Tchouameni - who is suspended for the first leg of Tuesday’s quarter-final at Arsenal.

Aurelien Tchouameni is suspended for the first leg

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Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao have been out since the back end of last year with knee injuries and remain absent. Dani Ceballos and Ferland Mendy have also been left out of the squad for the trip to Arsenal due to injury.

Ceballos, who spent two seasons on loan at Arsenal from 2019 to 2021, trained indoors on Sunday before joining the rest of the group for some of the session. Mendy was only able to work indoors away from the squad.

Ceballos was one of four Real Madrid players that risked being banned by UEFA for Tuesday’s clash at Emirates Stadium.

UEFA launched an investigation into Antonio Rudiger, Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Ceballos’ celebrations after Real Madrid’s win at Atletico Madrid in the last round.

No disciplinary proceedings were brought against Vinicius, while Mbappe and Rudiger were both fined and given a suspended one-match ban. Ceballos was fined.