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La Liga | Gameweek 8
Oct 5, 2019 at 3pm UK
 
Granada logo

4-2

Benzema (2'), Hazard (45'), Modric (61'), Rodriguez (92')
FT(HT: 2-0)
Machis (69' pen.), Duarte (77')

Real Madrid deny Thibaut Courtois panic attack reports

The Belgium international was substituted at half-time of Tuesday's Champions League draw with Club Brugge.

Real Madrid have dismissed claims that Thibaut Courtois suffered an anxiety attack in the midweek draw against Club Brugge, but manager Zinedine Zidane admits the former Chelsea goalkeeper is not "undroppable" after a poor run of form.

Courtois was substituted at half-time of Tuesday's 2-2 Champions League draw at the Bernabeu after conceding twice.

It has since been reported that Courtois had anxiety-related problems, but the club said on Friday that the Belgium international was replaced because of acute gastroenteritis.

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Listos para mañana! Vamos equipo!💪🏼 #HalaMadrid

A post shared by Thibaut Courtois (@thibautcourtois) on

"At no stage has our player been diagnosed with an alleged anxiety attack and these reports are therefore completely false," Real said in a club statement.

"Thibaut Courtois has been diagnosed and treated for an acute case of gastroenteritis with dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, which meant that he was unable to complete Tuesday night's game against Brugge.

"The player is currently responding well to treatment."

Courtois' form has again come under scrutiny this season due to several mistakes which have cost goals.

Zinedine Zidane File Photo
Manager Zinedine Zidane says no player is undroppable at Real Madrid (Nick Potts/PA)

The 27-year-old has conceded 81 goals in 58 games since joining Real from Chelsea in August 2018, and was the main topic of questioning for Zidane ahead of Saturday's top-of-the-table LaLiga clash with second-placed Granada.

"It is what it is, and he knows that," Zidane said when asked about the fans' whistles being directed at Courtois in midweek.

"He is strong, he knows he can turn the situation around. The first half the other day is about everyone, you can't keep going over it.

"Here there are no undroppable players, not Courtois or anybody.

"The people can talk about Courtois' errors but for three games in a row, he kept a clean sheet and that was him.

"I can always speak with players. I didn't speak with him specifically about the whistles against Brugge.

"We know what we did and we will keep looking forward."

Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez should return to the squad after missing the midweek game.

But a thigh strain rules out Marcelo, and Real are short of defenders with Ferland Mendy and Nacho also sidelined by injuries.

Real are top after seven games, one point ahead of Granada and Atletico Madrid, but have struggled in Europe and are without a win in the Champions League.

"We are not as bad as people outside are saying but this is Real Madrid," Zidane said.

"It won't change what people say. We are focused on what we can do on the field.

"We have a game now to stay first at the end of the game."

Promoted Granada have been the surprise package in Spain this season with 14 points from their opening seven games.

Granada's win include a 3-0 victory at Espanyol and a 2-0 home success over Barcelona.

Former Tottenham and Valencia striker Roberto Soldado, who began his career at Real Madrid, could miss out with a thigh problem.

Adrian Ramos or Carlos Fernandez stand by to deputise for Soldado, while midfielder Eteki has been ruled out with an ankle problem.

"Real Madrid is the winner of several Champions Leagues in recent years, it is a top team," Granada manager Diego Martinez said at his pre-match press conference.

"It has taken us a lot to get here and we are a good team.

"But we belong to different universes and in 90 minutes we will try to minimise that.

"We want to be competitive and to show the best of ourselves. That is the path we are going to follow to try to win at the Bernabeu."

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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona18122450203038
2Atletico MadridAtletico17115131112038
3Real Madrid17114237162137
4Athletic Bilbao1896327161133
5Mallorca188371821-327
6Villarreal167542827126
7Real Sociedad177461611525
8Osasuna176742225-325
9Real BetisBetis176652021-124
10GironaGirona176472325-222
11Sevilla176471823-522
12Celta Vigo176382528-321
13Rayo Vallecano165561819-120
14Las PalmasLas Palmas175482227-519
15Leganes174671523-818
16Getafe173771114-316
17AlavesAlaves174491928-916
18Espanyol1642101528-1314
19Real ValladolidValladolid1733111234-2212
20Valencia152491323-1010


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