Lunin in Doubt Five Days Before the Champions League Final
Ukrainian goalkeeper Andriy Lunin missed Real Madrid's training session due to a fever, preventing him from joining his teammates in the open media session ahead of the UEFA Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, June 1.
This development comes amid ongoing debates about who will be the starting goalkeeper for the match, with Belgian Thibaut Courtois, now recovered from two knee injuries, being the favored option.
“It’s a very tough decision because both deserve to play in the final. Lunin has had a fantastic season, and although he has a fever today, he’ll recover by Saturday. And Courtois, because he’s back from his injury and is the best goalkeeper in the world. I enjoy this debate, so this week, when I have nothing to do, I like listening to it,” said coach Carlo Ancelotti in the press conference before the training session.
The session also missed Austrian David Alaba, recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament tear in his left knee suffered in December, and Frenchman Aurelien Tchoauméni, dealing with a stress injury in his left foot. Both have been confirmed as absences for the final.
Due to Lunin's absence, Ancelotti called up Juvenil A goalkeeper Fran González. Additionally, Mario Martín, a regular in recent call-ups for the team, and Puerto Rican Jeremy de León participated in the training.
De León, who has been part of the squad during the knockout stages despite not being registered to play in the Champions League and having limited involvement with Raúl González’s Castilla, will also travel with the team to London.