CAR BLIMEY
Real Madrid ‘leave star at home’ to avoid serious risk to players ahead of Champions League final amid Ancelotti dilemma
Illness to one star could give an opportunity to a former Chelsea star
CARLO ANCELOTTI has been left with a massive selection headache ahead of the Champions League final.
Real Madrid take on Borussia Dortmund on Saturday at Wembley Stadium as they aim to claim their 15th European title.
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Andriy Lunin, 25, will not travel with the rest of the squad after getting the flu.
The Ukrainian goalkeeper has starred for Los Blancos in every Champions League knockout game.
Lunin has proved to be a sufficient stopper, while Thibaut Courtois recovered from rupturing his cruciate ligament back in August 2023.
He even showed his heroics in the penalty shootout win over Manchester City as he saved Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic's efforts.
The Belgian has since returned to the team and started the last five LaLiga fixtures of the season.
Lunin will not travel with the team on Thursday in order to protect the rest of the team.
However, Marca have claimed that he will be going to London on either Friday or Saturday when the risk of spreading the illness is gone.
Lunin has also been pictured by his wife Anastasiia Tomazova training at home.
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The goalkeeper was snapped running in their garden which would suggest he is on the road to recovery.
She captioned the post: "When the fever isn't an obstacle to training. I'm so proud of you."
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Ancelotti, 64, will now have to decide on sticking by Lunin as his cup goalkeeper despite his illness.
The Italian manager, though, could opt to give the starting spot to Courtois.
The ex-Chelsea goalkeeper, 32, has cemented himself as one of the best in the world since his move to Spain in 2018.
Ancelotti has admitted that the decision he has been left with is "really difficult."
He said: "It’s really difficult.
"Both of them deserve to play this final.
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"Lunin, because he did a fantastic season, and Courtois, because he is back from his injury and everyone knows the quality of Courtois."
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