Long shadow of Lunin and Courtois

The responsibility of changing the decisive goalkeeper in the recent successes of real Madridthere is always a saving stop Thibaut Courtois In decisive moments, he added to an ice goalkeeper, Andriy Luninwhich would not have started a tie worse against City of Manchester before recomposing himself and focusing on the challenge of Etihad Stadium.

Appeared Luna during his dedication with personality to overcome the blows. He received it at the beginning of the season. When the script suddenly changed I thought that there was a serious knee injury of Courtois the expected opportunity, his good performance in the first two games. In San Mamés and the Almeria Stadium of Mediterranean Games.

Nothing he did on the lawn could stop the real Madrid you go to the market. The lack of experience of Luna – until it hurts Courtois has played 17 games in three years -, is considered by Carlo Ancelotti The first, a huge risk due to the forecast of not getting their starting goalkeeper back until late in the season. It is selected Kepa Arrizabalaga and sent immediately Luna going to the bench

He was close to leaving last summer but the Ukraine keeper decided to stay for one more year. Few opportunities but continued growth by working with what is considered the best goalkeeper in the world over the years. Without the competition of Courtoisalmost three months without playing is a difficult moment to digest Luna.

He has shown that he is ready, looking forward to training so that when it is his turn to play, he can present his best version. Every absence of Kepa Due to physical problems, he took advantage of it. Because success with a clean sheet on Cádiz -he achieved this in 12 of the 26 games he played this campaign-, he became a starter.

as many Ancelotti caused doubt, even to the point of confirming the owner Kepa and he will play when he recovers. That revolved around the Spanish Super Cup with a semifinal for the Basque goalkeeper and the final for the Ukrainian. In 2024 Luna won the match and only stopped playing against Arandina in Copa del Rey and Almeria in The league.

In the most prestigious competition, the Champions League, Luna He played seven games, five this season (conceding six goals). In a highlight, his excellent performance in Germany, in the first leg of the round of 16 against Leipzig, when he equaled Courtois’ record of saves, with nine, in a final.

That wall he built on RB Arenathis will be the key to making it to Etihad Stadium. In a new pulse with Erling Haalandwho have yet to score a goal against real Madrid. But City of Manchester is more. An offensive football machine that scored 120 goals in the 41 games it played without losing its fans. Almost three goals per game (2.92). The hardest test you can face Luna.

The first leg in Santiago Bernabeu By far this was the highest pressure match played by the Ukrainian. Until then, starter in the final of the Spanish Super Cup in the defeat against the Barcelona. Pointed to one of his weakest games in Metropolitan Cívitas in the eighth of Copa del Rey where the real Madrid fell before him Atlético de Madrid and scored four goals.

They were two high-flying duels in which he underwent an examination with mixed results. He is new city It couldn’t have started any worse. They rely on putting a block on a long foul without asking more from a teammate. Besides Vinicius Junior move from where I put it just in case Bernard Silva He dared to shoot. He did so and his late reaction couldn’t prevent the goal that blew the tie in its first minute.

He didn’t fall, he got even with a good hand on Haaland with the single shot he received within the area and he could do nothing against the great aims of Foden and Gvoirdiol with long shots. This is a warning of the offensive arsenal that awaits him in Etihadwhere is he real Madridwith the Courtois In goal, he scored four goals in each of his two visits. From the party of Luna a good part of Madrid’s path depends on League of Champions 2023-24.