After the 2-3 win over Atalanta in the Champions League, Thibaut Courtois was keen to allay concerns about Kylian Mbappé’s injury after he came off the pitch to score a superb goal. It was a situation that shook Real Madrid but, according to the Belgian goalkeeper, is not as serious as feared.
Real Madrid came from behind to beat Atalanta 2-3 in the Champions League on Tuesday evening. But all Casa Blanca fans are holding their breath for Kylian Mbappé. The France international opened the scoring for Real Madrid in the 11th minute against Atalanta, before leaving the pitch with an injury 20 minutes later.
The French striker felt discomfort in the back of his left thigh, but Thibaut Courtois, who spoke after the match on Movistar+, tried to allay concerns. ‘I don’t think it’s serious, he stopped at the right moment. Maybe we’ll lose him for the weekend, but not afterwards,’ insisted Real Madrid’s Blege goalkeeper after the match, which has put Carlo Ancelotti’s side back in the hunt for a place in the last 16.
In any case, Courtois’ comments suggest that the injury is less serious than expected. The Madrid goalkeeper seems confident that Mbappé’s precautionary approach could prevent the injury from worsening.
A difficult match against Atalanta, but a precious victory
Despite Mbappé’s exit, Real Madrid managed to snatch a valuable win against Atalanta, with second-half goals from Vinicius Jr. and Jude Bellingham. Courtois commented on the win, stressing the difficulty of playing on Atalanta’s home turf, a team currently top of Serie A.
‘It’s a very difficult pitch, they’re leaders in Serie A and they’ve done well in the Champions League too. We started well with the goal, with a few chances. Their pressure cost us more, and the penalty was no fluke,’ he added. Despite the difficulties, Real Madrid held firm, particularly in the second half, where the team withstood Atalanta’s attacks.
The victory over Atalanta is not only important for the Champions League, but it is also part of a dynamic that must be confirmed in future home games. As Courtois reminds us, Real Madrid must capitalise on these games if they are to continue to progress in the competition. ‘At home, against Salzburg and Brest, we have to do a very good job,’ he concluded.
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