CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Who will be Real Madrid’s starting goalkeeper in the Champions League final against Dortmund?
Andriy Lunin has performed admirably in goal for much of the season but Thibaut Courtois is back to full fitness after injury.
Real Madrid’s preparations for Saturday’s Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund have gone smoothly so far, with head coach Carlo Ancelotti able to give his key players rest and game time in equal measures with the LaLiga title wrapped up several weeks ago. The Italian, however, has a big decision to make ahead of the game at Wembley: whether Andriy Lunin or Thibaut Courtois starts in goal.
How Real Madrid replaced the injured Courtois
Unusually, Los Blancos have had three “regular” goalkeepers at different points of the season, all because of injuries suffered by undisputed first pick Courtois.
After the Belgian ruptured his ACL before the campaign had even begun, Kepa Arrizabalaga was drafted in on loan from Chelsea and started 11 consecutive games before losing his place to Lunin, who had played in the first two LaLiga fixtures.
Andriy Lunin’s stats in 2023/24
The Ukrainian, a long-term back-up, has made 31 appearances in all competitions, and his performances have ensured Courtois’ absence has barely been felt. With Lunin in goal, Madrid cruised to the league title, won the Spanish Super Cup and have knocked out Manchester City and Bayern Munich on the way to reaching Saturday’s Champions League final.
The 25-year-old has conceded more goals per minute than Kepa (every 91.9 minutes compared to every 98.2 minutes) and has a lower clean sheet per appearance ratio (38.7% compared to 45%), although that can partly be explained by him playing in bigger games against stronger opposition.
Courtois makes long-awaited return
On the eve of his long-awaited return to action from his ACL tear, Courtois then suffered a meniscus injury, which delayed his comeback by a month. The 32-year-old did eventually make his first start of the season in the home win over Cádiz on 5 May and has since kept four clean sheets in four starts.
In the last of those, at home to Real Betis on Saturday, the former Atlético Madrid goalkeeper was substituted just after the hour-mark, but only to give Kepa some game time before he heads back to parent club Chelsea.
Speaking at Real Madrid’s media day before the Champions League final, Ancelotti stated that he would make a late decision on who starts between the sticks in London, but also hinted he had already made up his mind.
What has Carlo Ancelotti said about his starting goalkeeper in the UCL final?
“It’s very difficult because both deserve to play in the final: Lunin because he has had a great season and Courtois because he has come back from injury. I will wait until the last day to decide.
“Lunin now has a fever, but he’ll be ready for Saturday. But the best goalkeeper in the world is also coming. I love the debate and if I tell you who plays, the debate is over.”
Although the Italian hasn’t publicly revealed his starting goalkeeper, Courtois is expected to be picked after coming through his return from injury unscathed.
The Belgian, who won’t play at Euro 2024 after falling out with national team manager Domenico Tedesco, won the Champions League with Real Madrid in 2022, when he was named MVP in the final against Liverpool.