Real Madrid starter overlooked for national team duty

Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin will be missing from the Ukrainian squad for their final two Nations League group-stage matches where they will face Georgia and Albania.

Even though Lunin wouldn’t have started in these matches due to coach Serhiy Rebrov’s preference for Benfica’s Anatoliy Trubin, his absence remains notable.

Interestingly, as reported by Mundo Deportivo, The keeper’s withdrawal from these fixtures is due to family matters, keeping him from contributing to his national team this time.

A starter for Real Madrid

Since Real Madrid’s main goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, suffered an adductor injury during the match against Dortmund, Lunin has stepped up as the starter for Los Blancos.

Over the course of this season, he has been entrusted with five starts. His record includes two wins, against Villarreal and Osasuna, and three defeats in matches with Lille, AC Milan, and Barcelona.

In Real Madrid’s most recent game against Osasuna, Lunin stood out with a remarkable assist that set up Vinicius Jr.’s second-half goal, showcasing his capability not just as a shot-stopper but as a player capable of contributing to the team’s attacking play as well.

Not the first time

Interestingly, this is not the first time Lunin has missed out on playing for Ukraine this season. During the October international break, he was also granted permission to skip the Nations League matches due to a viral infection.

Suffering from gastroenteritis, Lunin stayed in Madrid to recover. During that period, Courtois was sidelined by a similar adductor injury, the same issue that currently has him out of action.

With Courtois still in recovery, Lunin’s role at Real Madrid continues to be crucial, especially as the team navigates both domestic and international competitions.

His performances so far have shown resilience but with mixed results in terms of victories. For now, Lunin remains focused on his club duties, stepping up in Courtois’s absence while his national team looks to other options in goal for the upcoming Nations League fixtures.