Courtois to start for Real in Champions League final, Ancelotti says

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti ended his side’s goalkeeper debate on Friday by announcing that Belgian Thibaut Courtois will start over Ukraine’s Andriy Lunin in Saturday’s Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley.

Widely considered one of the best keepers in the world, Courtois has started five games since returning from a long lay-off after suffering a torn ACL in August.

His return had left the Italian coach with a tricky decision as stand-in Lunin shone during Real’s LaLiga title campaign and was the hero when they beat Manchester City on penalties to reach the Champions League semi-finals.

Ancelotti had kept his cards close to his chest for the last couple of weeks but with Lunin missing Real’s last week of preparations for the final and unable to make the trip with the squad due to a virus, the decision was made easier.

“Lunin has had the flu and will travel from Madrid tomorrow. He is fine, but tomorrow he will be on the bench. Courtois will play,” Ancelotti told a press conference at Wembley on Friday.