Carlo Ancelotti
Source: Africa Publicity Sport Desk
Real Madrid coach, Carlo Ancelotti, has confirmed that Thibaut Courtois will start in the Champions League final this evening while Ukrainian goalkeeper Andriy Lunin will watch on from the bench.
Madrid are taking on Dortmund in the final at Wembley Stadium in London today, June 1, 2024.
Courtois was confirmed in the starting lineup for Saturday’s showdown at Wembley Stadium after Andriy Lunin was hit by flu this week.
According to Ancelotti, he had a difficult decision to make after Courtois missed most of the 2023/2024 season due to injury and Lunin helped Madrid to the La Liga title as a second choice. But Lunin was unable to travel with the rest of the squad to London because of illness and won’t join them until Saturday.
Ancelotti noted on Friday that “Lunin has had the flu and that didn’t allow him to train or travel. He will travel tomorrow. He’s going to be on the bench, so of course Courtois will be in goal tomorrow.”
Lunin himself confirmed his health situation in a post on social media on Thursday, saying in the post that: “I am very sad to say that I won’t be able to prepare for the most important game of the season and the most important game of my life with my team,” Lunin wrote on Instagram. “Many thanks for the messages of support and encouragement!”
Lunin was the hero for Madrid when saving two penalties in the decisive shootout win over Manchester City in the quarterfinals. He was also in goal when Madrid beat Bayern Munich in the semifinals.
Courtois was outstanding in the final when Madrid last won the Champions League in 2022, but has missed much of the campaign after rupturing his left knee ligament in August. He then ruptured the meniscus in his right knee in March.
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