Thibaut Courtois continues to bail out Real Madrid, and his latest performance against RB Leipzig offered another reminder of his importance to the team.
Four first-half saves prevented the German side from taking control before Bernardo Silva’s goal turned the game in Real Madrid’s favour.
Yet the result did little to hide a worrying pattern: the Spanish giants are giving opponents too many opportunities to test their goalkeeper.
With Courtois’ contract approaching its expiry, keeping him at the club has become one of the easier decisions facing the hierarchy and a renewal is already close to being finalised.
Courtois gives Real Madrid a lifeline
The defining moment against Leipzig came in the 27th minute, when Rômulo unleashed a powerful effort that Courtois somehow pushed around the post.
The Belgian did more than get a hand to the ball. He directed it away from danger, preventing a rebound and forcing the Bundesliga club to settle for a corner.
Christopher Nkunku also found himself through on goal, only for Courtois to make himself enormous and deny the forward in a one-on-one situation. A strong attempt from Baku brought another intervention.
Courtois was brilliant against RB Leipzig. (Photo by Diego Souto/Getty Images)
These were not routine saves that looked impressive. Each one came at a point when Leipzig had an opportunity to punish Real Madrid’s defensive lapses.
Courtois kept the score under control long enough for his teammates to make their quality count at the other end.
The statistics behind Real Madrid’s reliance on Courtois
The pattern is becoming familiar. Real Madrid can still turn games with their attacking quality, but they are increasingly dependent on Courtois to prevent difficult spells from becoming costly ones.
The goalkeeper’s workload puts that dependence into perspective.
At the time of the Leipzig match, Courtois had faced 59 shots on target across the season and saved 45, giving him a save rate of approximately 76%. He had recorded only two clean sheets, against Malaga and Villarreal, both at the Bernabeu.
The problem is not confined to one difficult evening. Atlético Madrid had managed nine shots on target against Real Madrid, while Inter recorded eight and Rayo Vallecano seven.
Leipzig’s four first-half efforts placed that period among Courtois’ busiest opening 45 minutes of the campaign, surpassed only by the five shots on target he faced against Rayo.
New contract imminent. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
There have been quieter games, of course. Against Málaga, Real Madrid conceded just one shot on target, and that came after half-time. But such performances have not been the norm.
The figures point to a team that can still win matches while allowing opponents too many chances. Courtois’ interventions have softened the consequences, but a 76% save rate cannot guarantee that every dangerous attempt will be stopped.
Real Madrid must improve
Courtois’ latest performance was not an isolated moment of brilliance but another reminder of how much the team relies on him when their defensive organisation breaks down.
The more pressing concern is what happens in front of him. If Real Madrid want to be more reliable in major matches, they must stop asking their goalkeeper to deliver extraordinary saves just to keep ordinary results within reach.