Thibaut Courtois Returns to Real Madrid's Lineup for Arsenal Match

Thibaut Courtois returns to the Real Madrid lineup for the Champions League quarter-final match against Arsenal, and he's ready for the challenge.

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has declared himself “fully fit” for the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Arsenal on Tuesday. The 32-year-old Belgium international has missed the past three matches due to injury but is now ready to return to action. Courtois spoke on Monday, saying, “I am fully fit and I feel good. It was not a big issue, so I could train in the gym, and I have been on the pitch for the last day, so I feel fine and 100 per cent.”

Courtois' return is a welcome boost for Real Madrid, who were forced to play 19-year-old Fran Gonzalez in their surprise 2-1 La Liga defeat to Valencia at the weekend. This was due to Courtois' deputy, Andriy Lunin, also picking up an injury. With Courtois back in the lineup, Real Madrid will look to bounce back from their defeat and make a strong impression against Arsenal in the Champions League.

“I have a lot of respect for Arsenal and a lot of friends who support Arsenal,” said Courtois, who played for Chelsea before his move to Spain in 2018.

“I know they have been doing great and have been close to winning the Premier League.

🎙️ @ThibautCourtois 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/SFtGH6SvOA

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) April 7, 2025

“They play well, have a young team and a nice blend of experienced players, too. They defend well, press high, are good at the low block and are quick on the counter and have players who can score easily.”

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta described the upcoming Champions League match against Real Madrid at the Emirates as the biggest game of his career to date.

Mikel Arteta has been at the helm of Arsenal for five years, during which he has transformed the team into Premier League challengers. Although his trophy haul is currently limited to the 2020 FA Cup, Arteta's work has not gone unnoticed. Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti praised Arteta's achievement, saying, “He's built a complete team.” Ancelotti added that there are few teams in Europe that can be considered truly complete.

"We have a lot of respect for Arsenal" 🗣️

Thibaut Courtois speaks ahead of Real Madrid's Champions League quarter finals against Arsenal. pic.twitter.com/cIeYWH4Luk

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) April 7, 2025

Ancelotti's praise is significant, given the Italian's own success in the Champions League. He believes that Arteta has taken Arsenal to the “top of Europe,” a testament to the progress the team has made under his leadership. Ancelotti's comments highlight the respect he has for Arteta's work and the challenges that Real Madrid will face when they take on Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-final.

"There are lots of teams who do certain things very well but there aren't many that do everything as well as Arsenal do.

“He's doing a fantastic job. He is near the top of the Premier League, he's in the quarter-final of the Champions League.”