Real Madrid superstar ruled out of Manchester City clash with ruptured internal meniscus

The UEFA Champions League quarter-final meeting between Real Madrid and Manchester City has been affected by it’s first major injury problem.

Pep Guardiola’s reigning Champions of Europe will face Los Blancos across two matches at the quarter-final stage of this season’s competition, having cruised past FC Copenhagen with a 6-2 aggregate scoreline in the last-16.

The meeting between the two English and Spanish mega clubs follows on from last season’s enthralling semi-final meeting, as Manchester City progressed with a 5-1 aggregate outcome after a 4-0 home win over Carlo Ancelotti’s clubs.

While both teams will be desperate to reach the tie in early/mid-April with the strongest possible squad, it is the hosts of the first-leg tie that has succumbed to their first fitness setback following a problem sustained by their mainstay goalkeeper.

As per confirmation from journalist Fabrizio Romano, Real Madrid’s number one choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has ruptured his internal meniscus of the right knee, and is expected to be out for the next two months.

The ongoing 2023/24 season is now likely to be over for the Belgium international goalkeeper, who had just recovered from ACL injury.

Manchester City are moving closer towards a fully-fit squad a crucial phase of the season, with Jack Grealish becoming the latest player to make a return to the matchday roster following a reoccurrence of a groin problem.

Grealish sustained another setback during the FA Cup fifth round tie at Luton Town, and Manchester City opted to grant the England international an extended period away from the club to ensure that a repeat of the issue would not emerge.

Elsewhere and there is some concern over Kevin De Bruyne, however his omission from the Belgium international squad will likely give him enough time to return to action against Arsenal after the ongoing international break.