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Real Madrid's first-choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois appears set to make his return to the pitch this weekend, after sharing that he is bouncing back well from the illness that ruled him out of El Clásico.
Courtois was an unexpected absence for Sunday's clash at the Camp Nou, having fallen ill in the days leading up to the fixture.
In his place, reserve goalkeeper Andriy Lunin rose to the occasion for Los Blancos, producing five saves—including a stunning one-handed stop to deny Gerard Martín's close-range header—in a commanding 2–1 victory over Barcelona.
The win without Courtois has thrust Madrid firmly back into the La Liga title conversation, with José Mourinho's side now sitting just three points behind Barcelona at the summit.
Mourinho was full of praise for Lunin after the final whistle, telling the press that the Ukrainian "played a game with great balance and calmness."
While Real Madrid managed admirably without Courtois, they may not need to do so for much longer, as the 34-year-old Belgian confirmed he has returned to training and is feeling significantly better.
'Little by Little'—Courtois Training Again
Speaking to El Chiringuito on Wednesday, the goalkeeper offered an encouraging update on his condition and his potential availability for the match against Racing Santander.
"I'm feeling much better now, thank God," he said. "I'm training little by little to recover. There's still time ahead of Sunday."
Despite Lunin's impressive display last weekend, Courtois is expected to reclaim his starting position against Racing Santander this Sunday, provided he is given the all-clear fitness-wise.
The 34-year-old, who is now among Madrid's joint second-longest serving first-team players and a key voice in the dressing room, is consistently regarded as one of the club's most vital assets.
He also boasts the second-highest save percentage among La Liga goalkeepers this season (76.3%), trailing only Ionuț Radu of Celta Vigo.
Well-Stocked Madrid Out to Keep Pressure on Barça
Assuming Courtois has fully recovered from his flu and is available for Sunday, Madrid head into their away fixture against newly promoted Racing Santander with minimal injury worries.
Raúl Asencio (tibia), Ferland Mendy (thigh) and Rodrygo (ACL) remain long-term absentees and have yet to feature this season. Beyond those three, only Vinícius Júnior is set to miss the trip north, as he serves out his four-match ban following the red card he received in the team's 1–0 win over Villarreal earlier this month.
Madrid will be looking to maintain the heat on Barcelona this weekend, with the gap at the top now narrowed to just three points.
Los Blancos' fixture comes after Barça's game against Alavés the previous day. Following this weekend's action, Madrid face Valencia on Nov. 7—the last match before the November international break and the final game of Vinícius Jr's domestic suspension.