Real Madrid confirm major injury blow ahead of Champions League tie vs Man City

Real Madrid have announced that goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has suffered a fresh knee injury in training, casting doubt over his availability for next month's Champions League quarter-final against Manchester City.

City were drawn against Real on Friday, meaning they will go toe-to-toe with the LaLiga title hopefuls in a few weeks' time. The first leg will be staged at the Bernabeu on Tuesday, April 9, with the return leg at the Etihad Stadium taking place the following week on Wednesday, April 17.

City have faced Madrid in each of their last two Champions League campaigns, beating them at the semi-final stage last term. After the first leg finished 1-1 in Spain, Pep Guardiola's side blew the European giants away in the second meeting, winning 4-0 to secure a 5-1 triumph on aggregate.

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Courtois, formerly of Chelsea, started both of those fixtures, but is now a doubt for both this season's clashes with the Blues, adding yet more misery to his injury nightmare. Though Madrid are yet to put a specific timeframe on how long the Belgian could remain sidelined, reports elsewhere have suggested he could miss the next two months, meaning he may not play before the end of the campaign.

A statement issued on Madrid's website said: "Following tests carried out today [Tuesday], Thibaut Courtois has been diagnosed with a ruptured internal meniscus in his right knee. The injury occurred during today's training session. The injury will be monitored."

Courtois, who will turn 32 in May, has been sidelined all season because of an anterior