Firefighter Captain Once Again! Lunin to Start in Place of Courtois, Previously Undefeated Against Barcelona

According to Spanish newspaper AS, Ukrainian goalkeeper Andriy Lunin is once again in the spotlight and is expected to start in Saturday’s El Clásico. With Thibaut Courtois set to miss at least three matches due to a left adductor injury, Lunin will take over as the starting goalkeeper. Notably, Lunin has a perfect record of three wins in his previous matches against Barcelona.

Just when Carlo Ancelotti thought the team’s injury issues were easing, he received two pieces of bad news: first, Rodrigo got injured, followed by the absence of the first-choice goalkeeper, Courtois. Courtois had previously recovered from a serious ACL tear, but this recurrence of an old injury makes his recovery more challenging. Courtois is expected to be out for two to three weeks, meaning he will miss the matches against Barcelona, Valencia, and Milan. As a result, Lunin will need to step up and fill the void.

Although Courtois has been a solid presence between the posts for Real Madrid, Lunin has also shown that he can handle the responsibility. Lunin is ready to prove himself and demonstrate his capabilities. Last season, when Courtois was out with a long-term injury, Lunin’s performances earned the club’s trust, leading to a contract extension until 2030, along with a significant salary increase, reflecting the club’s confidence in him.

Lunin made 31 appearances last season and performed exceptionally well, even becoming a candidate for the Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper of the Year). His outstanding saves in matches against RB Leipzig and Manchester City particularly stood out. Although he missed the Champions League final due to a viral infection, his overall season was highly praised.

It’s worth noting that in this El Clásico, Barcelona’s first-choice goalkeeper, Marc-André ter Stegen, is also out with an injury, leaving Pena to start. The showdown between the two backup goalkeepers, Lunin and Pena, will be closely watched, as they may well determine the outcome of the match.