Real Madrid academy goalkeeper travels to Barcelona to join squad after veteran star’s unexpected setback

· MadridUniversal

The absence of Thibaut Courtois comes as a massive blow to Jose Mourinho’s plans ahead of El Clasico – a game that will have a massive impact on the league title race. In an unexpected development, the player has been excluded from Real Madrid’s squad on the day of the game and with the team […] The post Real Madrid academy goalkeeper travels to Barcelona to join squad after veteran star’s unexpected setback appeared first on Madrid Universal .

The absence of Thibaut Courtois comes as a massive blow to Jose Mourinho’s plans ahead of El Clasico – a game that will have a massive impact on the league title race.

In an unexpected development, the player has been excluded from Real Madrid’s squad on the day of the game and with the team already in Barcelona.

Needless to say, there is now an urgent need to reshuffle the squad, for the backup goalkeeper will now have to feature as the starting player.

New backup in place

As confirmed by El Chiringuito in a recent report, Real Madrid’s youth goalkeeper Illia Voloshyn, the youth team’s goalkeeper, will replace Courtois in the squad and serve as Real Madrid’s new backup option.

The player has already been seen travelling to Barcelona to join the first-team for his massive opportunity, for it is not everyday that a youth star gets a chance to be in the squad for a game against a team of Barcelona’s calibre.

Voloshyn will undoubtedly start on the bench, and will very likely not have any involvement on the night if matters progress as expected.

It is, however, a big chance for him and a clear sign that he is highly rated by the hierarchy among the various other academy options.

All eyes on Lunin

With Courtois leaving the scene as a last-minute absence, all eyes are now on Andriy Lunin to step up as a starter against Barcelona.

The Ukrainian star has played against the Catalans before, and Real Madrid have won three of the four games they have played against the Catalans with him in goal.

What is worrying, however, is that he is yet to see a clean sheet against Barcelona and has already conceded eight goals in just four appearances against Barcelona.

In that sense, he averages two goals conceded per game – a number that is worrying ahead of a game against a Barcelona whose attack is in imperious form.

Real Madrid, needless to say, will hope he can find his best version under pressure, for the goalkeeping performance will be key against the Catalan attack.

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