Shadow of Real Madrid deepens with goalkeeper Courtois suffering muscle injury

Concerns about the injury at Real Madrid deepened after goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois suffered a pelvic muscle injury.

Courtois, 26, who played the 90 minutes in Sunday's loss to Real Sociedad, joins Toni Kroos, Gareth Bale, Marco Asensio, Marcos Llorente and Mariano Diaz on the sidelines.

A statement from Madrid said the Belgian international had tests but did not specify a possible recovery time.

"After the tests performed with our player Thibaut Courtois by the medical services of Real Madrid, he was diagnosed with a Grade I lesion in the left iliac muscle," the statement said. "Your recovery will be monitored."
Costa Rican international Keylor Navas, allegedly unsure at the Bernabeu, is now poised to have a chance to regain his starting point.

Coach Santiago Solari should always lead him to Wednesday's Copa del Rey match against Leganes in the midst of the team's rotation.

The Madrid team in the first round of the round of 16 also includes Brahim Diaz with the injury crisis meaning that the 18-year-old could make his debut just 48 hours after being presented after his arrival from Manchester City.

Real Madrid can face nine games for La Liga and Copa del Rey in January, with the start of a bad year with just one point in two games against Villarreal and the Sociedad.

Team captain Sergio Ramos called a training session on Monday while Bale's agent Jonathan Barnett told ESPN FC that his client was in trouble to leave the Bernabeu, claiming that the defeat of the Society it was a "garbage load".