Courtois' return could cost Lunin his starting spot at Real Madrid

Real Madrid's goalkeeper situation ahead of the match against Racing

Ukrainian goalkeeper Andriy Lunin could lose his place in the starting lineup of Madrid's Real Madrid as early as the next game. Despite helping the team secure a 2-1 victory over Barcelona in the Spanish championship, his position remains uncertain due to the return of the team's primary goalkeeper.

According to the Spanish publication AS, Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who had previously missed matches due to health issues, has already joined the main group. At the training session held on 29 October, he performed exercises in a reduced mode, but no serious obstacles to his participation in the next match are expected.

Details of the match against Barcelona and Lunin's role

The opportunity to play in the key confrontation against Barcelona fell to Lunin precisely when Courtois was forced to miss the match due to illness. The encounter at the Camp Nou stadium ended in a 2-1 victory for the Madrid side. Both goals for Real Madrid were scored by Kylian Mbappé.

Andriy Lunin demonstrated reliable play, making several important saves. In particular, he parried a dangerous shot by Gerard Martín following a corner kick. However, such a successful performance does not guarantee the Ukrainian a place in the starting lineup if Thibaut Courtois fully recovers.

Real Madrid's plans for November

Real Madrid's next match will be played on Sunday, 1 November, away against Racing from Santander. Following their victory over the Catalans, the Madrid side intends to continue their fight for the championship title. Courtois's health status remains one of the factors in determining the starting lineup for this game. If the Belgian is ready to take the field, the coaching staff will likely rely on him again, and Lunin will return to the bench.