Coach Carlo Ancelotti was forced to separate goalkeeper Andriy Lunin and not let him fly with his Real Madrid teammates to London because he had the flu. Thus, it is likely that Thibaut Courtois will have a starting spot in the Champions League final.
Real Madrid is preparing to face Borrusia Dortmund at Wembley, with the ambition to win the 15th Champions League/C1 Cup in history. However, goalkeeper Lunin definitely did not get on the flight to London with Real Madrid members because he still hasn’t recovered from the flu.
The 25-year-old goalkeeper had to miss training for 3 consecutive days due to flu, and he was unable to practice with his teammates at Valdebebas in recent days. Lunin also did not play a single minute in La Liga’s season-ending match against Real Betis on Saturday, while Courtois played more than an hour. According to COPE reporter Miguel Angel Diaz, Lunin had influenza B and although he has recovered, he can still carry the virus and is at risk of spreading it to his teammates.
Lunin starred in helping Los Blancos reach the final, with excellent performances against Man City and Bayern Munich. He proved himself to be a reliable stopper, in the context that Thibaut Courtois missed nearly the entire season because of a torn knee ligament.
Lunin will not fly with teammates to avoid the risk of the flu spreading. However, Marca revealed that the 25-year-old goalkeeper could fly to London on Friday or Saturday morning, right before the final. Before that, he will undergo another test to monitor the remaining amount of virus.
Lunin’s wife Anastasiia Tomazova recently posted a picture of her husband exercising in the garden, a sign that he is on the road to recovery. “When fever is not an obstacle to working out,” Anastasiia captioned. I’m very proud of you, Lunin.”
Coach Ancelotti will have to make a decision, whether Lunin or Courtois will start the Champions League final, when the Belgian goalkeeper has just returned from injury. And it seems he chose Courtois. The former Chelsea star has established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the world since moving to Spain in 2018.
Ancelotti admitted: “It was really difficult. Both Lunin and Courtois deserve to play the final at Wembley. Lunin has had a great season, Courtois has recovered from injury and everyone knows his quality. I like debates. If it were revealed to you who will start now, what would be more interesting?
Lunin’s infection with influenza B makes the decision between coach Carlo Ancelotti’s two goalkeepers easier, because neither player can compete in the biggest final at the club level without completely healthy.
In addition, Courtois has more experience playing in the Champions League final than Lunin. In 2022, he and Real Madrid defeated Liverpool 1-0 at Stade de France. Courtois even received the title “Best Player of the Match”.
