I’m sorry, Thibaut Courtois, because I had my doubts.
The Belgian had proven to be the best goalkeeper in the world, and by some distance compared to the second, but a cruciate ligament injury affects any footballer, and even more so at the age of 32 and measuring 2 metres.
The goalkeeper even picked up another serious injury, this time to the meniscus in his other leg, shortly after returning to training with the group. The signs didn’t suggest that Courtois’ comeback would be at a similar level to when he was injured, but the game against Alavés shows that the Belgian is still there.
All this generates an important debate in the Real Madrid context: should Courtois play in the Champions League final?
The Belgian was on display against Alavés, making 10 saves and, according to data portal fberef, preventing the 1.4 expected goals, so often mentioned in recent weeks, from the Babazorro side, to give him his third clean sheet in his three games back from injury.
Against Cádiz and Granada, he was less involved: 0.5 goals saved against Cádiz and 0.1 against Granada, but he did make a great save to stop Chris Ramos‘ shot.
Courtois not only saves goals that, based on the quality of the shots, should end in a goal, but he has a 100% clean sheet rate, albeit against two relegated teams and a lower mid-table team.
Lunin has had a good season and managed to win the place of Kepa, who came in as the Belgian’s first-choice replacement, but in the end he was overtaken by the Ukrainian’s good positioning and greater aerial security.
Lunin has ‘only’ prevented 1.05 goals in the 20 league games he has played, ranking 10th in the competition in this figure, but he is the LaLiga leader in save percentage, stopping 79.3% of shots.
He also made a great impression in the Champions League, despite the mistake on Bernardo Silva‘s goal in Madrid, and shining in the second leg against Manchester City.
Professional football, and more so Real Madrid in a Champions League final, isn’t about being fair to players, it’s about winning. Courtois has already shown in a Champions League final what he is capable of and put in one of the greatest displays ever seen in the competition, but, is Thibaut’s current level really what it was against Alavés?
Is it more risky to put on Lunin who, despite a great Champions League performance, has left a negative impression in the knockout stages, or to go for Courtois who has arrived for the final stretch of the season with no experience?
Ancelotti will be the one to decide, but the shadow of how decisive the Belgian has been in recent seasons may weigh too heavily on Lunin.
Translated by Marcos Rodríguez.
Main image: @realmadrid.
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