The Champions League matchday gave way to a new chapter in the history of the competition. Thibaut Courtois was once again the center of attention, although this time not for a save, but for his contribution in attack.
Although Fede Valverde’s hat-trick stole the show, his first goal came from a pass by the Madrid goalkeeper to make it 3-0 against Manchester City. With this, the goalkeeper set two new records.
Courtois amazes with his performance in the Champions League
In the first leg of the round of 16 against Pep Guardiola’s side, the 33-year-old goalkeeper not only defended the goal as he has done since 2018, but also created an offensive play with a spectacular assist of almost 60 meters that left City’s defense scrambling.
Thanks to this move, he and Valverde scored the first goal of the match in the 20th minute of the first half. Vinicius Jr. and Brahim Díaz were Fede’s other two assists in the 28th and 43rd minutes of the match.
However, this goal-scoring pass from the goalkeeper not only showed that the Belgian can also be decisive with his feet, but it was also his second assist of the season in the UEFA Champions League.
The first came on September 30, 2025, during a match against FC Kairat. In that play, the goalkeeper launched a long clearance from his own area that ended up at the feet of Kylian Mbappé, who converted it into a goal.
Courtois has thus equaled José Francisco Molina’s number of assists in a single season (2003/04), although some analysts, such as renowned Spanish statistician Alexis Martín Tamayo, known as MisterChip, do not count his involvement in Pandiani’s goal against Juventus, considering Thibaut to be the only goalkeeper to have achieved this milestone.
In addition, the Real Madrid goalkeeper has now made a total of three goal passes in this competition, thanks to his time at Chelsea, and, according to OptaJose, he is the top assist provider in his position in the Champions League, adding a new record to his career.
Assists by goalkeepers are extremely rare, and even more so in a demanding tournament like the Champions League. That is why Courtois’ achievement has already become a historic record worthy of admiration.
Now, Thibaut and company will face Guardiola’s team again on March 17 in the second leg at the Etihad Stadium. Before that, however, they will host Elche CF at the Bernabéu in LaLiga on Saturday 14.
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