MADRID: Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti knows he will have a tough decision to make in goal for the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday.
Will he pick Andriy Lunin, who has played in goal nearly the entire season, or Thibaut Courtois, the veteran who has won the Champions League before but has just returned from injury?
“It’s really difficult,” Ancelotti said Monday. “Of course it’s really difficult, because both of them deserve to play this final. Lunin because he did a fantastic season, and Courtois because he is back from his injury and everyone knows the quality of Courtois. It’s a difficult decision but I think I’m going to take into the game this decision, no doubt.”
Lunin was nursing a fever and was the only Madrid player who didn’t train on Monday as Madrid began its final week of preparations. But Ancelotti said the 25-year-old Ukrainian was expected to be available for Saturday’s final in London.
The illness surely doesn’t help Lunin’s chances, though, and many had already expected Ancelotti to go with the more experienced Courtois despite his lack of minutes this season.
Courtois ruptured a left-knee ligament in August, just two days before the start of the season. The 32-year-old Belgian then also ruptured the meniscus in his right knee in March, when he was close to making a comeback.
He was sidelined until the beginning of this month, when he started in a 3-0 win over Cadiz, a victory that secured Madrid’s 36th Spanish league title.
Lunin was back in goal as Madrid beat Bayern Munich in the Champions League semifinals. He had saved two penalties in the decisive shootout win over Manchester City in the quarterfinals.
Lunin had earned the starting position over Kepa Arrizabalaga, the former Chelsea player who is Madrid’s other reserve goalkeeper. Ancelotti said Lunin was the best goalkeeper in the world right now.
Courtois has proven experience in finals, though, having won the 2022 Champions League with Madrid, the FA Cup with Chelsea, the Europa League with Atletico Madrid, and two Copa del Rey titles (one for Madrid, one for Atletico), among several other titles.
“Both deserve to play for various reasons,” Ancelotti said.
Ancelotti joked that he will wait as long as possible to announce the starting goalkeeper because otherwise the debate would be over, and “I like the debate.”
Ancelotti has ‘really difficult’ decision to make in goal for Madrid ahead of Champions League final
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Ancelotti has ‘really difficult’ decision to make in goal for Madrid ahead of Champions League final
- Lunin was nursing a fever and was the only Madrid player who didn’t train on Monday as Madrid began its final week of preparations
Australian Open champion Rybakina leads elite field at Dubai Tennis Championships homecoming
- Fresh from beating Aryna Sabalenka in Melbourne, Dubai-resident Rybakina returns this month as one of the tournament’s leading contenders
- The world’s top 20 women, including all 8 quarterfinalists from the season’s first Grand Slam, are confirmed for Dubai’s WTA 1000 event, which starts Feb. 15
DUBAI: Fresh off the heat and glare of Melbourne, the story of this year’s Australian Open will roll straight from the Rod Laver Arena into Dubai.
Elena Rybakina, 26, having dethroned defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 on Saturday, returns on Feb. 15 to the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, a tournament that is increasingly special to the Russian.
After adding a second Grand Slam win to her 2022 Wimbledon title, Rybakina, the new world No. 3, returns to Dubai not only as a former finalist but as a resident of the city since 2024.
All eight Australian Open quarterfinalists are confirmed to compete in the emirates’ 26th WTA event, bringing with them the rivalries, storylines, and form that defined the season’s first major.
“Congratulations to Elena, who we are delighted is returning to Dubai this month,” said Ramesh Cidambi, managing director of Dubai Duty Free and chairman of the organizing committee.
“The participation of the entire top 20 so soon after Melbourne gives fans a chance to see the sport’s biggest names together in one place. For the players, we provide another proving ground and an immediate chance to test themselves on a hard court against the very best once again.
Rybakina’s title run in Australia showcased her complete arsenal of thunderous serving, flat baseline power, and icy composure.
“I would like to send huge congratulations to Elena on behalf of everyone at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships,” said Salah Tahlak, tournament director and deputy managing director of Dubai Duty Free.
“She has competed at our tournament in Dubai five times in the past six years, reaching the final on her debut in 2020 and progressing to the semifinals last year.
“As a Dubai resident, she always enjoys a lot of ‘home’ support here and I’m sure that will only grow after this past weekend’s fantastic victory. We look forward to welcoming her back.”
The eight quarterfinalists in Dubai include world No. 1 Sabalenka, six-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek, world No. 4 Amanda Anisimova, American pair Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula, ranked No. 5 and No. 6 respectively, two-time Dubai champion Elina Svitolina, and 18-year-old starlet Iva Jovic.
Also competing are defending champion Mirra Andreeva, 2024 winner Jasmine Paolini, Canadian breakout Victoria Mboko, and 2019 winner Belinda Bencic.
The contest takes place from Feb. 15 to 21, followed by the ATP 500 men’s tournament from Feb. 23 to 28.
