Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has confirmed the absence of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois from Saturday's top-of-the-table clash with second-placed Granada.
The Belgian goalkeeper was booed by Real's disappointing 2-2 home draw with Club Brugge in the Champions League after a shocking two-goal lead in the first half.
In a statement on Friday, Real denied local media reports that the goalkeeper was suffering from anxiety.
The club said that Courtois suffered from "acute stomach inflammation," as confirmed by Zidane.
"He was tired (before the Bruges match) and I'm sure of that, and these things happen. He had a stomach problem but he was able to play and at the break he was not in good shape," the Frenchman told a news conference.
Zinedine Zidane said that goalkeeper Alphonse Arriola will play against Granada, adding that he will depend on all the players. As great as Courtois. "
Zidane defended Courtois: "The most important thing is what he feels now and certainly not the main reason for what happened against Bruges in the first half. He is the goalkeeper but he is not the only culprit."
"Tomorrow we will play a game between the first and the second and we do not want things to go wrong. The game means a lot. We will face a team that is going through a good period like us and we want to make the best effort.
Real face another defensive problem ahead of the newly-promoted side, after left-back Marcelo was confirmed to have been sidelined by a hamstring injury.
Verlan Mendy and Nacho are already out of place, forcing Zidane to improvise, but said he would not rely on Gareth Bale for the position he started.
"To be honest, I didn't think about it at all, but we have other options," he said.
Options include relying on newcomer Eder Melitau, who had previously played a right-back.
"This is definitely an option because he is a defender and he played on the right side."