Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois, Antonio Rudiger Set To Miss La Liga Clash Vs Rayo Vallecano | Football News
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Real Madrid will miss Courtois and Rudiger against Rayo Vallecano due to injuries but expect their return for the UEFA Champions League match against Atletico Madrid.
Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois and Antonio Rudiger. (Image: AFP)
Real Madrid have opted against the selection of Thibaut Courtois and Antonio Rudiger from the squad to face Rayo Vallecano at home on Sunday.
According to Spanish media, as mentioned in a report by AFP, the German centre-back is out due to illness, while the Belgian goalkeeper has some discomfort on his knee. The good news for Los Blancos is that both men are expected to return to the squad for the second leg against Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash, set to be held on Wednesday.
Madrid would want to bounce back after the defeat to Real Betis to revive their title charge. Currently, they are third in the points table behind the likes of Barcelona, who are at the top, followed by rivals Atletico Madrid as well.
Barcelona’s match against Osasuna on Saturday was postponed after the death of one of the Catalan club’s doctors.
“Barcelona is sorry to announce the sad news of the death of the first team doctor, Carles Minarro Garcia, this afternoon,” said the club in a statement.
“For this reason, the match between Barcelona and Osasuna has been postponed until a later date.
“The board of directors and all the staff at Barcelona wish to convey our most sincere condolences to his family and friends, we are with them at this difficult time.”
Fans had begun entering the Olympic stadium for the league leaders’ clash against Osasuna, before it was called off around 20 minutes before the expected kick off at 2000 GMT.
The doctor, 53, leaves behind a wife and two children, said Barcelona president Joan Laporta.
“This is incredibly painful news for Barcelona; it has left us heartbroken, in shock, because it was so sudden,” said Laporta.
“We contacted his mother and his wife, to express our condolences and support them in these incredibly painful moments…
“It is our duty to be there for all of them, his wife, his children, his mother.”
The doctor had been working with different Barcelona sides since 2017, and began working with the men’s football first team a few months ago.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – AFP)