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Just days before the all-important Barcelona game, Real Madrid suffered a massive setback, as star goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois picked up an injury.
The Belgian international has been ruled out for at least three weeks, leaving Carlo Ancelotti without his main goalkeeper for a second consecutive season.
Courtois’ fresh injury means the onus will once again be on Andriy Lunin to act as the main man in between the sticks. He played a similar role for the majority of last season when Courtois was ruled out with a long-term injury.
Real Madrid calm about goalkeeping situation
Despite Courtois’ injury, though, Real Madrid remain calm about their goalkeeping situation and are not worried about the Belgian’s short-term absence, reports MARCA.
That is primarily because Real Madrid have retained full faith in Andriy Lunin. The Ukrainian international has proven to be a reliable deputy, earning the full trust of both Carlo Ancelotti and his teammates.
Unlike previous instances when Courtois’ absence created palpable anxiety, there is now a calm confidence in Lunin’s abilities.
His impressive performances have cemented his status as a capable replacement. This weekend, he will take charge against Barcelona in El Clasico.
Tough road ahead
The game against Barcelona, though, won’t be the only big challenge for Andriy Lunin. Upcoming weeks, in fact, are set to be challenging, with key games against Valencia, and AC Milan.
Lunin, though, has proven in the past that he can rise to the occasion and this time around, there is no reason why he can’t live up to these high-stakes encounters.
For now, the Ukrainian will focus on getting a crucial clean sheet against one of the most lethal attacking teams in Europe this season.
