Thibaut Courtois' outstanding personal challenge
The Belgian keeper was inspired form prior to the imposed break on football due to the coronavirus pandemic and has his sights on a third 'Zamora' award.
Belgain stopper Thibaut Courtois was enjoying a distinguished season with Real Madrid when the Covid-19 pandemic put a halt to all top flight football in virtually every corner of the planet. Head coach Zinedine Zidane praised the 27-year-old in January claiming: "He could quite feasibly break every existing Real Madrid goalkeeping record". The Belgian is training at home as per the rest of the first team squad and has sights set on a personal goal which would seem him on a level with the likes of other celebrated keepers in the Spanish game: Ricardo Zamora, Gregorio Blasco, José Vicente Train, Salvador Sadurní, Arconada and Ablanedo with a third Zamora award (lowest "goals-to-game conceded" ratio in LaLiga).
Courtois is a leading favourite to secure the honour having just conceded 16 goals in domestic competition this season with 50% shut-outs in 24 games.
His current coefficient is 0.67 and currently enough to top the list of goalkeepers who have participated in at least three LaLiga games this season. To be eligible for the Zamora award the Belgian will need to play in four more games and reach a total of 28 matches with his closest competitor being that of Jan Oblak. The Slovenian stopper has conceded 21 goals in 27 matches and is currently on a coefficient of 0.78.
Aiming for No. 3
Securing a third Zamora award would add to the 2012-13 and 2013-14 wins when then a player with city rivals Atletico Madrid.
The last Real Madrid goalkeeper to secure the coveted award was Iker Casillas back in the 2007-08 season with the Mostoles born stopper shipping just 32 goals in 36 games for the Bernabéu outfit.