Thibaut Courtois relishing Keylor Navas battle

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has said that he is relishing battling Keylor Navas for the gloves at the Bernabeu this season.

Navas started Madrid's first two La Liga matches of the 2018-19 campaign, with Courtois - a summer arrival from Chelsea - named on the bench.

The Belgium international came in for his debut against Leganes on Saturday night, however, and is now expected to be the club's first-choice stopper moving forward.

Courtois has said that he has an excellent relationship with Navas, and insists that he will have to perform to a high level in order to keep the Costa Rica international out of the team.

"Keylor Navas and I get along very well. Sometimes I see that the press want to look for controversy, but we're competing very well and always training to the fullest," Courtois told reporters.

"When you come in so late, it's not easy to integrate. Lopetegui told me yesterday that I was going to play. Competition makes you give more of yourself. There's competition in every position at the best club in the world."

Courtois made over 150 appearances for Chelsea before moving to Los Blancos last month.