Who is Real Madrid's starting goalkeeper? We raised this question a month ago in an article about the club's choice between Andre Lunin and Kepa Arrizabalaga. Now the answer seems clear. Lu Ning is in the lead.
It represents a considerable shift and contrasts with what happened in the summer, when Kepa Arrizabalaga joined on loan from Chelsea – after long-time Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was cancelled for the entire season due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) knee injury – to become Carlo Ancelotti's number one goalkeeper for the remainder of the season.
On 15 August, Kepa was in a happy mood and full of anticipation and turned down an offer from Bayern Munich, a multi-time German champion, to return to his native Spain.
Asked if his goal was to convince Madrid to decide to keep him after the end of his loan, he replied: "I hope so. Today is the first day and we'll see, but hopefully with my performance we can achieve that. ”
Six months later, that possibility looks slim.
When Thibaut Courtois was confirmed to miss the first La Liga game of the season on 10 August, some voices within the club felt that it was time for Lunin because it would be complicated to bring in another top goalkeeper. But Madrid moved quickly – very quickly – to secure Kepa's arrival. Lunin started his first two league games but once he had a chance to settle in, the Chelsea loanee immediately took his place.
Kepa Arrizabalaga's level is very high," Ancelotti said at the time. "Lunin lacks a little experience. They don't rotate much. Since making his debut in Madrid on 25 August, Kepa has played 13 games in a row: 10 La Liga games and three Champions League games, conceding 10 goals and keeping six clean sheets. He made some excellent saves, including an important save in the national derby against Barcelona on 28 October, in which Madrid equalised and won 2-1 from behind.
Other performances may not have been entirely convincing, such as the away games against Sevilla in La Liga and Napoli in the Champions League in October, but the coaching staff was happy with him. Kepa Arrizabalaga and his family were also delighted, with his wife even posting a ** that appeared to be a farewell to London, having moved to Chelsea from Athletic Bilbao five years ago.
However, Kepa then picked up an injury in the warm-up ahead of the Champions League game at home to Sporting Braga on 8 November. As described by sources within the club, it was a "turning point" that changed the balance between the two goalkeepers. Lunin came into the starting XI and saved a crucial penalty that night, with the score still 0-0. Despite barely warming up, he seized the opportunity to reignite the debate over who should be the club's starting goalkeeper.
Kepa Arrizabalaga then suffered an injury that lasted longer than initially anticipated for two games. He ended up missing out on four games before and after the November international break as Carlo Ancelotti continued to publicly insist he was the number one goalkeeper. 'If he's ready, Kepa will play,' he said on 27 November. But a few days later, when the Basque returned to health, he found himself on the bench instead of on the pitch.
Just before Christmas, Carlo Ancelotti said: "I don't have the idea of rotating goalkeepers. Both were very good. Lunin has made a lot of progress and has shown a lot of confidence as Kepa maintains his level ......In the second half of the season, I would choose one of them. ”
However, since suffering an injury ahead of the Braga game three months ago, Kepa has made just five appearances – once in the Champions League, twice in La Liga, once in the Copa del Rey (against Alandina in the fourth division) and most recently in the Spanish Super Cup. This last appearance, the semi-final against neighbouring Atletico Madrid on January 10, could be seen as another turning point.
Madrid won 5-3 after extra-time, but Kepa received some criticism for his role in conceding goals, while Lunin was given more chances in the final against Barcelona four days later, which Madrid won 4-1.
The following weekend in league fixtures, Carlo Ancelotti turned his attention to Kepa again, but he was again far from at his best, as Almeria led half-time 2-0 at the Bernabeu and a third goal was cancelled after VAR intervened to end Madrid in a 3-2 comeback victory, also thanks to some more controversial refereeing decisions.
Carlo Ancelotti did not want to publicly clarify which goalkeeper he preferred, but Kepa Arrizabalaga was on the bench in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final against RB Leipzig on Tuesday and his Ukrainian national team team-mates showed his best side. A source within the coaching staff said: "Kepa's injury opened up the possibility for Lunin to fight for a starting place and he won the game. Lu Ning persuaded people through his performance. ”
Sources in the dressing room say the 29-year-old loanee is close to Luning, who has called him "an exemplary team-mate, as if he's been playing". A similar story was made when Kepa Arrizabalaga encountered a similar situation at Chelsea, where he was fighting for a starting start as a spare tyre in 2022-23.
Kepa's Chelsea contract expires at the end of next season. This summer could be the London club's best chance to seek a transfer, but as previously reported by Sport, given that Chelsea will be asking for around €20 million (around £17.1 million; $21.5 million), Madrid are unlikely to sign him – a figure that is too high for a backup goalkeeper.
Lunin now appears to have become Carlo Ancelotti's first choice, although Kepa Arrizabalaga could return to the starting line-up before the end of the season and show himself further when he gets another chance. At the same time, he has been training, convinced that he is ready to play and be a starter, although his close ones are no longer sure if he will stay in Madrid.