Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti ended the speculation surrounding his team’s goalkeeper choice by announcing on Friday that Belgian Thibaut Courtois will start over Ukraine’s Andriy Lunin in Saturday’s Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley.
Courtois, widely regarded as one of the world’s best goalkeepers, has made a strong return from a long injury layoff after suffering a torn ACL in August. Since his comeback, Courtois has started five games, showcasing his form and fitness.
Ancelotti faced a tough decision with Lunin excelling during Real Madrid’s LaLiga title campaign and playing a crucial role in their Champions League run, particularly with his heroics in the penalty shootout win against Manchester City in the semi-finals.
For the past few weeks, Ancelotti had kept his decision under wraps. However, Lunin’s recent illness made the choice clearer. The Ukrainian missed the final week of preparations due to the flu and could not travel with the squad initially. Ancelotti confirmed Lunin would be on the bench, having recovered enough to join the team late.
“Lunin has had the flu and will travel from Madrid tomorrow. He is fine, but tomorrow he will be on the bench. Courtois will play,” Ancelotti said during a press conference at Wembley, flanked by captain Nacho and midfielder Luka Modric.
Ancelotti acknowledged that his team is heavily favored against a Dortmund side that finished fifth in the Bundesliga. Despite the favorable odds, he emphasized the need to remain cautious and focused.
“A final is the most important match, but also the most dangerous. You have to enjoy being here, and we’re going to do that, but then there’s the worry that something could go wrong,” Ancelotti remarked. “You feel that winning the Champions League is very close and you’re afraid that it might slip away. The important thing is that we know that we have to do everything very well, have a bit of luck, and never give up.”
With Courtois in goal, Real Madrid aims to secure another Champions League triumph, wary of the potential pitfalls that come with high expectations.
