More than a month and a half has passed since the injury. Since that strike that hurt like a gunshot. It happened on March 17, at the Etihad: a tear in the rectus anterior of the right quadriceps. That was 45 days ago, the time that Real Madrid has been breathing without its main lung. Without that giant who transmitted calm with his mere presence, confidence, and security.

Time has passed, and at times it seemed like an eternity, but the story has already reached its climax and is heading toward the resolution: it is practically certain that Courtois will be the goalkeeper for the Clasico next Sunday at the Camp Nou.

It is not 100% certain, but almost; practically 99%. Courtois has been training on the grass for a few days. He still has a little bit left to do all the work with the group, but he is already doing explosive exercises with impacts and kicks. It is a matter of days before he starts working completely normally, and, in fact, he is not ruled out for inclusion in the squad against Espanyol.

But for that match, Lunin is expected to play as of today. It would be his ninth straight match. Because with Thibaut, the non-negotiable premise is zero risk. He will not return to play until there is not even the slightest signal of a relapse.

Even less so, given that the World Cup is on the horizon. But the plan is not the opposite either (not playing this final stretch and 'saving himself'). Not at all. Courtois' flight to the United States makes a stop in these final matches. To add up feelings, regain competitive rhythm.

And along the way, help the team close out a season to forget with the least bad possible taste in the mouth. To start with that Clasico. Winning at the Camp Nou would be a small morale boost, which is no small thing given where the current numbers are. It will not be easy.

But it will be with Courtois. Who is more than indisputable in the team? Thibaut had played in 41 of the 44 matches, up until the injury. That is 93% of the season. He had been absent only three times: Athens (gastroenteritis), Talavera (rest), and Albacete (rest). In everything else, an undisputed starter.

That is his label. In a year with more curves than straight lines, he was averaging three saves per match. With nights that were peaks on the graph, like Anfield (eight interventions) or Da Luz (seven). In total, he has recorded 122 saves.

When he fell in combat against Manchester City. It happened in the first action of the match. Shot, save, and pain. Notable pain. He held on until halftime — and recorded another three interventions — where a conclave with the coaching and medical staff took place.

Initially, something serious was ruled out; in fact, Thibaut himself seemed calm as he left the stadium, walking without notable problems. But a day later, the MRI was devastating: a tear in the rectus anterior of the right quadriceps. And a considerable one, a month and a half out.

Today marks those 45 days. And from here on, there are few grains of sand left in the hourglass. Talking about Cornella-El Prat is very ambitious because it's not about returning until the risk of relapse is nonexistent.

But with a week and a half of training... he is pointing to the starting eleven at the Camp Nou. It would mean playing a football match again, 55 days after that injury in Manchester. Putting an end to a time that, at times, has seemed like an eternity, but it is coming to an end.

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