Real Madrid – PSG is the poster everyone is waiting for this week in the knockout stages of the Champions League. Beaten 1-0 in the first leg, the people of Madrid are up against the wall but can count on a major asset. From the height of its double meter, Thibaut Courtois seems almost impassable right now.
Heroic 3 weeks ago at the Parc des Princes, the Belgian goalkeeper had long repelled the Parisian offensives and even had the luxury of diverting a penalty from Lionel Messi before giving in to Kylian Mbappé in additional time. A 5-star performance unanimously hailed by the Spanish press, dithyrambic towards Courtois. “He’s been Real’s in-form man since the start of the season” notice Tracy Rodrigospecialist in Spanish football.
“We talk a lot about Karim Benzema and of Vinicius Junior but the most consistent player since the start of the season is Thibaut Courtois. He has been exceptional since the start of last season. It feels like he’s stopping everything“.
Imperial on his line and in the air, Thibaut Courtois has already signed 11 clean sheets in 27 La Liga games and has only conceded 3 goals in 7 Champions League games. Performances that earned him the title of player of the month for February in his club ahead of players like Benzema, Vinicius or Modric. A rather rare distinction for a goalkeeper in a club like Real Madrid. “That says a lot indeed” emphasizes Tracy Rodrigo, “Real have been in trouble since early December and it’s true that it’s Thibaut Courtois who’s in charge“.
