Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has named Thibaut Courtois in his squad for Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final first leg against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
Courtois has missed Real Madrid’s last three matches with an injury that he sustained on international duty with Belgium last month, but Ancelotti said after Saturday’s La Liga clash with Valencia that he was expecting to have his first-choice stopper available for the European fixture in London.
The 32-year-old has indeed been included in the squad, but Andriy Lunin is not involved due to a calf problem, which led to him being an unused substitute against Valencia last time out.
Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao remain long-term absentees due to serious knee injuries, with the pair also absent, while Ferland Mendy, Dani Ceballos and Aurelien Tchouameni are also not involved.
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Courtois back in Real Madrid squad for Arsenal contest
Tchouameni is unavailable for selection due to a European suspension, while Mendy and Ceballos remain out injured.
Ancelotti was confident of having the pair available for selection against Arsenal, but neither have been declared fit, meaning that six players in total are out of the fixture for the European champions.
Fran Gonzalez made his debut against Valencia on Saturday due to the absences of Courtois and Lunin, and the 19-year-old will again be on standby to feature between the sticks against Arsenal.
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Can Mbappe, Vinicius, Rudiger play against Arsenal?
Real Madrid faced having four players suspended against Arsenal for the celebrations that took place in the aftermath of the team’s penalty-shootout success over Atletico Madrid in the last round of the Champions League.
Rudiger appeared to make a throat-slitting gesture to the Atletico fans, while Mbappe seemingly grabbed his crotch; the celebrations of Vinicius and Ceballos were also being investigated.
However, Rudiger and Mbappe received suspended one-match bans, in addition to fines of €40,000 (£34,000) and €30,000 (£25,000) respectively, while Ceballos has also been fined €20,000 (£17,000) for his conduct.
Ceballos misses out regardless through injury, but Mbappe, Vinicius and Rudiger are all in the squad, handing the champions a major boost heading into what is shaping up to be a fascinating contest in North London.
Real Madrid squad vs. Arsenal:
Courtois, Gonzalez, Mestre; Alaba, Vazquez, Vallejo, F Garcia, Rudiger, Asencio, Jacobo, Lorenzo; Belllingham, Camavinga, Valverde, Modric, Guler, Chema; Vinicius, Mbappe, Rodrygo, Endrick, Brahim, Gonzalo
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