Real Madrid, in their goal, are lucky to have two of the best goalkeepers in the world. Thibaut Courtois and Alisson Lunin form the perfect partnership, the former competing in the league and the Champions League and the latter in the Copa del Rey. A Copa del Rey in which he is performing very well, but the debate over who would occupy the goal in the final is still open.
Real Madrid reached the final in a crazy match against Real Sociedad that went to extra time and was decided in the last breath thanks to a goal from Rüdiger. In the duel at the Santiago Bernabéu, as is usual in the Cup, Lunin was in goal. The Ukrainian goalkeeper failed to stop Oyarzabal’s goal that sent the tie into extra time and, although he made a couple of top-class saves, it was not his best game.
Ancelotti gave the ’13’ the main role in the Cup and up to the semi-finals, he has fulfilled it. But who will be chosen for the final? Carlo Ancelotti was asked about this in the run-up to the semi-final second leg and the Italian did not want to commit himself. “Lunin and Courtois can play and if both are injured it would be Fran González. But if we don’t qualify, none of the three would play”, he replied to the media.
There is a precedent that no one will be able to forget and that was much more complicated to materialize. It happened last season, when Lunin performed one miracle after another in the Champions League with Courtois in the infirmary with a damaged knee, and yet the Wembley final went to the legend.
Precisely having that status of legend allows him to be a determining factor in the decision. That is to say, Ancelotti’s decision together with his staff will also be conditioned by what Courtois wants, who has earned the right to have a say.
Lunin, without the Cup, last game?
If he doesn’t play in the cup final, the goalkeeper could have played his last game as a Real Madrid player. Lunin’s future is still unknown as the player is considering leaving, tired of being in the shadows. This season, his role is even smaller than in previous campaigns, as between the league and the Champions League he has only played 5 games. The 5 games that Courtois has been unable to play due to injury. His competition continues to be the Copa del Rey.
Lunin’s good performances continue to be monitored by important teams looking to strengthen their goalkeeping and one of them is Manchester United. In addition, there has also been talk of several interested parties from Turkey. He has no shortage of interested parties and he could be living his last months as a “merengue”.
Andriy Lunin has a chance of becoming the number one goalkeeper at another club. Now, Galatasaray’s interest in the Ukrainian goalkeeper is being echoed from Turkey. The Turkish team has noticed the curious dilemma facing the goalkeeper at the heart of the white team. Real Madrid have the upper hand because of their goalkeeper, so if the Istanbul team wants to sign him they will have to sharpen their wits to get hold of Lunin.
Courtois, a doubt for Valencia?
However, he could have a new opportunity in La Liga. During the international break, Thibaut Courtois did not play in Belgium’s second match due to an injury. From the outset, there was an attempt to play it down, but the truth is that the goalkeeper was not included in Real Madrid’s squad either against Leganés on Saturday in La Liga or this Tuesday in the Copa del Rey against Real Sociedad. In fact, he has been training separately from the group.
As Miguel Ángel Díaz announced on El Partidazo on COPE, Thibaut Courtois is in serious doubt for Saturday’s clash against Valencia at the Santiago Bernabéu, so Lunin could be back in goal.