Real Madrid vs Barca: Courtois is the mainstay at Bernabeu
Nine seconds changed the game against Juventus, the 300-match milestone for Real Madrid and a series of saves in the 96th and 99th minutes turned Courtois into Xabi Alonso's biggest support before the Clasico at 10:15 p.m. on October 26.
In just nine seconds in Turin, Real Madrid went from stunned to relieved: a through ball was intercepted, a counter-attack opened up the goal, then Thibaut Courtois closed the angle to save Dusan Vlahovic. That pivotal moment kept the game in check for Real Madrid to beat Juventus 1-0 in the Champions League and bolstered their confidence in their number one goalkeeper ahead of El Clasico at 10:15 p.m. on October 26 at the Bernabeu.
9-second scenario and Courtois's "cross opening"
Key play against Juventus
At 49:39, the score was 0-0. Real Madrid had a lot of possession but were stuck. Aurélien Tchouaméni tried to pass to Brahim Diaz in the box, but Kelly read the situation, intercepted the ball and accidentally turned it into a counterattack for Vlahovic. Real's defense was very high: Eder Militao and Raul Asencio stood close to the opponent's box, allowing Juventus to punish them with quick transitions - a scenario that had appeared in the first half.
Xabi Alonso admitted: “That mistake happened again. We have recognized it and will fix it immediately. Not because we do not understand why it happened, but because there is an imbalance that should not have been there.”
Decide on the goalkeeper's position and actions
Courtois briefly considered running forward to intercept the ball but changed his mind. “Vlahovic and Mili are both very fast, so I chose to stay a little bit behind,” he said. When Militao forced Vlahovic wide, Courtois closed the angle, “making himself bigger, spreading his arms and legs” to block the shot. It took just nine seconds from Kelly’s clearance to the save – enough time for the game to change, if not for the Belgian’s hands.
Goalkeeping expert Thierry Barnerat said this was a perfect example: good space management in a 2v1 situation is beneficial and the “cross” movement (spreading arms and legs) takes up maximum space in the goal – a detail that “many goalkeepers only spread one leg”.
Big nights and Real Madrid's spiritual fulcrum
Against Juventus, it was Courtois' 300th appearance for Real Madrid. He has saved the day in a similar way several times in his 18 appearances under Xabi Alonso: in the 9th minute of La Liga against Getafe, he denied Kamara's close-range shot; in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup semi-final against Dortmund, he flew to block Marcel Sabitzer's shot in the 99th minute.
“We have a fantastic goalkeeper,” said Alonso after the 1-0 win over Juventus. “Thibaut has a special ability to appear at the right time on important Champions League nights. We are lucky to have Thibaut – he can win games that seem lost.”
Tactical angle: the risk of a high defense and the lesson of transition
Defense and positional distance
The Turin situation exposed two problems: the nearest centre-back (Militao) was not positioned between the striker and goal, and the cover man (Raul Asencio) was too far away. When the ball was lost in the final third, the large gaps left Real vulnerable to counter-attacks. Militao’s pressing reduced the shooting angle, but Courtois’s decision to stay in position was key.
Courtois' role in the 2v1 frame
In one-on-one situations, Courtois excels with distance management, late decision-making and the “cross-opening” technique. For Real at the moment, it is not only a save, but also a “safety valve” for a high pressing structure – a foundation for them to pressure the opponent but still need a big enough blocker behind.
Important statistics
| Category | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Results vs Juventus | 1-0 | Champions League, midweek |
| The pivotal moment | 49:39 | The move that led to the save against Vlahovic |
| Situation duration | 9 seconds | From Kelly's clearance to the save |
| Save vs Getafe | 96th minute | Round 9 La Liga, denied Kamara's shot |
| Save vs Dortmund | 99th minute | FIFA Club World Cup 2025 semi-final, Sabitzer's shot |
| Career milestones | 300 matches | For Real Madrid |
| Under Xabi Alonso | 18 matches | The decisive saves came frequently. |
| El Clásico last season | 16 goals conceded/4 matches | Challenge for Real Madrid's defense |
Insider reaction
Courtois admitted the importance of his save against Juventus: “If you go behind, it is very difficult to come back against a Juventus team that defends so tightly.”
Xabi Alonso saw both a warning and a fulcrum: an organizational error that needed to be corrected immediately, but Courtois' presence allowed Real to maintain a proactive attacking structure while still having a "safety net".
Thierry Barnerat considered the situation in Turin to be “exemplary” in terms of goalkeeper technique: managing space, waiting for the moment to make a decision, and “opening the cross” to maximize coverage.
Impact on El Clasico Real Madrid vs Barcelona
This weekend, Real Madrid host Barcelona at 10:15 p.m. on October 26. After a season in which he conceded 16 goals in four El Clasicos, Courtois – in top form and having just reached the 300-match mark – has become the home team’s mental and tactical support.
On the other hand, Barcelona had some changes before the big match: Lamine Yamal "heated up" the big match with a provocative statement; Coach Hansi Flick had determined the attacking trio; while Frenkie de Jong and Andreas Christensen fell ill, one of them had to be hospitalized. For Real Madrid, the victory over Juventus also left worries when Raul Asencio was injured, affecting the defense plan.
A big test awaits Courtois and the Real Madrid squad. But if El Clasico is a game of details, the 33-year-old goalkeeper’s form and timing can make the difference again – as he did for nine seconds in Turin.
