Article by Cosmin Nistor – Published Tuesday, 17 March 2026 23:25 / Updated Tuesday, 17 March 2026 23:27
Manchester City and Real Madrid went to the booths, score 1-1, in the second leg at the “Etihad”, in a match in which the Madrid players opened the scoring. Before the start of the second half, an unexpected change caught the eye: Andriy Lunin replaced Thibaut Courtois between the goals of the Spanish line-up.
In the round match, Real Madrid prevailed 3-0, after Federico Valverde's “triple”.
Thibaut Courtois, replaced at halftime of the Manchester City – Real Madrid match
The Belgian goalkeeper was replaced at half-time, at a time when the score was 1-1, his place being taken by Lunin. The reason was not immediately clear, but according to Marca, Courtois allegedly blamed a problem in the first half, having been spotted making a strange gesture during a phase where the ball went out of bounds.
Following this change, Madrid were left without a backup goalkeeper on the bench, as the third goalkeeper, Fran Gonzalez, was not included in the squad for this match. Arriving in Madrid in 2018, Courtois has scored no less than 41 matches this season in the goal of the “galacticos.”
Courtois, replaced by Lunin // PHOTO: X
Lunin, holder and hero in the past
In the 2023-2024 competitive season, Andriy Lunin was the first option in Real Madrid's goal, taking advantage of Courtois' injury. Between January and May 2024, the Ukrainian made 31 appearances in all competitions, winning the starting duel with Kepa Arrizabalaga.
During that time, Lunin recorded 12 clean sheets and an average of 3.2 assists per game. His developments were essential for winning the La Liga title and for the team's European journey.
The peak moment came in the duel with Manchester City in the quarterfinals of the Champions League, when he saved two penalties and contributed decisively to the qualification. However, Courtois' return ahead of the final in London changed the pecking order, with the Belgian starting in the 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund, despite many supporters believing Lunin deserved to defend in the final act of the competition.
