Andriy Lunin has been Real Madrid’s No.1 goalkeeper for the majority of the season (Photo: Getty)
Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin has seemingly ruled himself out of playing in the Champions League final due to illness.
Los Blancos are looking to win a record-extending 15th UCL trophy at Wembley on Saturday when they take on Borussia Dortmund.
But it appears they’ll have to do it without their first-choice keeper after Lunin was struck down with the flu earlier this week.
The Ukrainian missed training from Monday to Wednesday, and did not fly with the rest of Real’s squad to London on Thursday.
It was reported that the 25-year-old would travel on his own on Friday or even Saturday just hours before kick-off, with the chances of him playing the biggest match of the season growing slimmer and slimmer.
But on Thursday night, Lunin himself all but confirmed that he would play no part in the final, writing on Instagram: ‘I’m so sorry that I can’t prepare for the most important game of the season and the most important in my life together with the team…
‘Thank you so much for all your messages, support and encouragement!!! Here’s to the 15th.’
Thibaut Courtois is likely to start the UCL final despite only just returning from a lengthy injury (Photo: Getty)
Lunin was only ever supposed to be back-up to Thibaut Courtois, but the Belgian suffered an ACL injury on the eve of the 2023/24 season and has missed almost the entire campaign as a result.
Real initially loaned in Chelsea’s Kepa Arrizabalaga to replace him, but Lunin later claimed the No.1 status for himself, with his outstanding performances helping his side win the La Liga title.
He played all their Champions League knockout games, notably saving two penalties in the shootout victory against holders Manchester City and would have started the final.
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Carlo Ancelotti is very likely to select Courtois to start against Dortmund, having returned to action earlier this month to play four league games, keeping a clean sheet in all of them.
The 32-year-old, who was not named in Belgium’s Euro 2024 squad, was the player of the match in the 2022 Champions League final when Real beat Liverpool 1-0.
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