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Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is reportedly set to make his comeback for Sunday's El Clásico, which would mark his first outing since March 17.
The Belgian custodian picked up a thigh injury during the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 tie against Manchester City and has been on the sidelines ever since. Los Blancos felt the impact of Courtois's absence acutely—managing just one clean sheet across eight games without him guarding the net.
His comeback appears to be on the horizon, and right on cue for the side's visit to Camp Nou on Sunday. MARCA reports Courtois is set to be Álvaro Arbeloa's first-choice goalkeeper against Barcelona, provided there are no further complications.
The 33-year-old took part in Monday's full training session alongside his teammates and looks set to relegate Andriy Lunin—who faced justified criticism for his displays over the past seven weeks—to the bench. Should Courtois feature in El Clásico, it will be his 330th outing for Real Madrid.
Courtois's Return Overshadowed by Another Serious Injury
Arbeloa will be delighted to have Courtois back, though he will still be without the injured Arda Güler, Éder Militão, Dani Carvajal, Rodrygo and potentially Kylian Mbappé for the crucial showdown with the Catalans on May 10.
Ferland Mendy has also been added to the treatment room after picking up an injury during Los Blancos' 2–0 victory over Espanyol at the weekend. The Frenchman lasted just 14 minutes before being forced off, with subsequent tests confirming a muscular injury to his right leg.
Real Madrid have not disclosed a recovery timeline, but ESPN reports Mendy could face a five-month spell on the sidelines, with surgery potentially needed to resolve the problem.
Losing Mendy just days before the Clásico is a significant setback given his recent return to peak form, underscored by his impressive showings against Manchester City winger Savinho and Bayern Munich star Michael Olise in the Champions League.
Compounding the issue, Álvaro Carreras appears to have fallen out of Arbeloa's plans, leaving Fran García as the likely starter on the left side for Sunday's derby.
Real Madrid Hoping to Avoid Nightmare Scenario
Barcelona's 11-point cushion at the top of the table makes their La Liga title all but a formality. Finishing as runners-up for a second consecutive season to their fiercest rivals is already a tough reality for Real Madrid to accept, but two particular scenarios would make it even harder to stomach.
The 15-time European champions have already dodged one: being forced to form a guard of honor for Hansi Flick's side at Camp Nou. Los Blancos' win over Espanyol prevented the reigning Spanish champions from wrapping up the title before El Clásico.
However, there remains a scenario in which Barcelona could celebrate their title defense right in front of Real Madrid on Sunday. The Catalans will be crowned La Liga champions once more if they earn at least a draw.
The only way to halt Barcelona's party this weekend is for the visitors to claim all three points. Arbeloa's side would then delay their rivals' coronation as Spanish champions by at least another week.