He was a starter against Lille and Villarreal, and Ancelotti will give him the bad news: he will not play in the Clasico
The Italian coach, Carlo Ancelotti, has full confidence in his team but has carefully selected the lineup based on the tactics required for upcoming matches. Real Madrid is gearing up for crucial encounters after the international break, including the highly anticipated Clasico against Barcelona in La Liga and a Champions League clash against Borussia Dortmund.
According to reports from *El Nacional*, Andriy Lunin has been Real Madrid’s starting goalkeeper in the last two matches and performed commendably. Although he did not save a penalty in the Champions League, Lunin made several key saves and impressed against Villarreal, particularly with his handling of aerial balls and his positioning.
However, the report adds that Thibaut Courtois has ramped up his training and is expected to be fully fit after the international break. Ancelotti reportedly has no doubt that Courtois will return as the starting goalkeeper for the Clasico on October 26.
Ancelotti has already informed Lunin that he will be benched for the Clasico once Courtois is back. Despite this, Lunin remains a valuable backup, performing his role well and hoping for more playing time as the season progresses, given the lengthy schedule and multiple competitions Real Madrid is involved in.
Lunin’s contract renewal until June 30, 2030, indicates that Real Madrid sees him as a long-term investment. The Ukrainian goalkeeper is preparing for the future, with hopes of becoming the first-choice goalkeeper when Courtois eventually leaves. Courtois’ contract runs until 2026, by which time he will be 34 years old. It remains to be seen whether Real Madrid will offer Courtois an extension or look to transition Lunin into the starting role, potentially alongside another goalkeeper.Carlo Ancelotti is strategically preparing Real Madrid for a challenging schedule ahead, including the Clasico against Barcelona and a key Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund. He has made tactical lineup decisions, recently favoring Andriy Lunin as the starting goalkeeper due to his commendable performances, especially against Villarreal, where he demonstrated strong handling and positioning.
Despite Lunin’s solid displays, Thibaut Courtois is ramping up his training and is expected to regain his starting position for the Clasico on October 26. Ancelotti has reportedly informed Lunin that he will return to the bench when Courtois is fit. Nonetheless, Lunin’s contract extension until 2030 signifies that Real Madrid views him as a long-term investment and a valuable backup.
As Courtois’ contract runs until 2026, discussions about his future will be crucial. Lunin aspires to eventually step into the starting role as Courtois ages, potentially paving the way for a transitional period that may involve bringing in another goalkeeper to join the squad.
