Thibaut Courtois will start in goal for Real Madrid in place of Andriy Lunin for Saturday’s Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund, manager Carlo Ancelotti has revealed.
Los Blancos are seeking a record 15th European Cup in what will be only their second-ever game at Wembley Stadium.
Ancelotti has a rich squad full of world-class options to call upon, but much of the focus leading up to the final has been on his choice of goalkeeper.
Courtois sustained an ACL injury on the eve of the 2023/24 season, and a meniscus tear during the latter stages of his rehabilitation has limited him to just four appearances this term. In his absence, Lunin has stepped up, performing admirably in 31 appearances for Madrid and surpassing loanee Kepa Arrizabalaga for the starting spot. Before this season, Lunin had only played 17 times for the Spanish giants since his 2018 move from Zorya Luhansk in Ukraine.
However, Lunin has not traveled with the Madrid squad to London due to an illness, leading to the decision to start Courtois.
In his pre-match press conference, Ancelotti confirmed Courtois would indeed start: “Lunin travels tomorrow [to Wembley] and he will start on the bench, Courtois will play,” he said on Friday.
Courtois was named player of the match in Madrid’s last Champions League final, a tenacious 1-0 win against Liverpool in 2022. He made a record nine saves during the victory, with Vinicius Junior scoring the winning goal in Paris that evening.
Ancelotti, meanwhile, is on the hunt for his fifth Champions League title, having won two with Madrid across his two spells, as well as two with Milan.