Real Madrid have negated reports suggesting goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is suffering from anxiety, confirming he was withdrawn at half-time in Tuesday's 2-2 draw against Club Brugge due to gastroenteritis.
Courtois, 27, was substituted by Paris Saint-Germain loanee Alphonse Areola when Real trailed 2-0 at half-time during their UEFA Champions League Group A game.
Courtois was given Real's No. 1 jersey this summer after former starter Keylor Navas joined Paris Saint-Germain, with Areola moving in the opposite direction on temporary terms.
However, the Belgian hasn't mesmerized as Real would have hoped since arriving at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, and Tuesday's first-half display didn't help his case
Per Dunne's report, Courtois had to be driven home by his father following the result. That suggests he may not be fit in time to face Granada at home on Saturday, when Areola could make his second Liga start for the club.
Los Blancos have kept clean sheets in their last three domestic games but are yet to win in the Champions League after two matches, losing traction on runaway Group A leaders PSG. The Ligue 1 side sit on six points after two victories, while Real remain bottom with just one point.
Zinedine Zidane may have hoped to establish some clarity between the posts when Navas left the club, but Courtois' apparent illness is an undesirable obstacle.
Courtois recently spoke to Marca and said "you have to accept this pressure" when you're a goalkeeper at Real Madrid, and that pressure doesn't seem likely to diminish for the foreseeable future.
Areola should deputise as No. 1 against Granada should Courtois not be fit to return, while Castilla goalkeeper Diego Altube could be part of a senior matchday squad for the first time.
