Injured Real Madrid Goalie Courtois to Miss Champions League Game

 Real Madrid's Belgian goalkeeper #01 Thibaut Courtois warms up before the Spanish league football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Real Madrid CF at the Metropolitano stadium in Madrid on September 29, 2024. (AFP)
Real Madrid's Belgian goalkeeper #01 Thibaut Courtois warms up before the Spanish league football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Real Madrid CF at the Metropolitano stadium in Madrid on September 29, 2024. (AFP)
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Injured Real Madrid Goalie Courtois to Miss Champions League Game

 Real Madrid's Belgian goalkeeper #01 Thibaut Courtois warms up before the Spanish league football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Real Madrid CF at the Metropolitano stadium in Madrid on September 29, 2024. (AFP)
Real Madrid's Belgian goalkeeper #01 Thibaut Courtois warms up before the Spanish league football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Real Madrid CF at the Metropolitano stadium in Madrid on September 29, 2024. (AFP)

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois will miss Real Madrid’s match at Lille in the Champions League on Wednesday because of a muscle injury.

Following tests on Monday, Courtois was diagnosed with an abductor injury in his left leg, Madrid said.

Courtois was hurt in the 1-1 draw at Atletico Madrid in the Spanish league derby on Sunday. He played the entire match at Metropolitano Stadium.

Madrid began the defense of its Champions League title by beating Stuttgart 3-1 at home.

Included in Madrid’s squad was Kylian Mbappé, who missed the derby against Atletico because of a hamstring injury.



Man United’s Fernandes Took an Unusual Decision to Face Questions after His Red Card against Spurs

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - September 29, 2024 Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes is shown a red card by referee. (Chris Kavanagh Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith)
Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - September 29, 2024 Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes is shown a red card by referee. (Chris Kavanagh Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith)
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Man United’s Fernandes Took an Unusual Decision to Face Questions after His Red Card against Spurs

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - September 29, 2024 Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes is shown a red card by referee. (Chris Kavanagh Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith)
Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - September 29, 2024 Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes is shown a red card by referee. (Chris Kavanagh Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith)

Bruno Fernandes said he didn’t deserve to be sent off for a dangerous challenge on James Maddison in Manchester United’s Premier League defeat against Tottenham on Sunday.

The United captain was shown a straight red in the 42nd minute at Old Trafford.

“Nobody wants to be sent off, it’s not a good feeling,” said Fernandes, who took the unusual decision of stepping up for post-match interviews following his dismissal. “I didn’t go with the studs. It’s never a red card. Even James Maddison when he gets up he said it’s not a red card.”

Fernandes appeared to slip when attempting a tackle in Tottenham’s half — but then raised his foot and caught Maddison on the shin in a studs-up challenge.

Referee Christopher Kavanagh immediately brandished a red card.

“If this is a red card, we have to look at many other incidents,” Fernandes said. “It is a foul. There is not much contact. If he (the referee) wants to give me a yellow, I agree. I don’t understand why VAR doesn’t call him to the screen.”

According to Opta, which provides statistics for the league, Fernandes became the fourth United captain to be sent off in a Premier League game at Old Trafford.

He joined Roy Keane, Nemanja Vidic and Wayne Rooney on that list.

United trailed 1-0 at halftime after Brennan Johnson’s goal in the third minute.

It got worse for United after the break when Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke sealed a 3-0 win for Spurs.