Real Madrid clinched another UCL quarterfinal spot

The 14-time UCL winner Real Madrid has qualified for the last eight of the 2023/2024 Champions League. This success cannot be separated from Andriy Lunin's toughness under Real Madrid's rule in the two matches in the round of 16. Los Blancos played the second leg of the Champions League Round of 16 on Wednesday (06th March 2024), against RB Leipzig and they had to be satisfied with a 1-1 draw playing at the Bernabeu. Real Madrid qualified for the top eight because they won on aggregate, scoring 2-1. In the first leg at the Redbull Arena Stadium, Real Madrid won 1-0 through a goal scored by Brahim Diaz.

In both rounds of 16, current La Liga toppers must say a lot of thanks to Andriy Lunin since the 25-year-old goalkeeper appeared quite solid. The Ukrainian received the trust of Carlo Ancelotti to guard Real Madrid's goal in the two matches in the last 16 of the 2023/2024 Champions League and he also did exceptionally well with the saves he made.

In the first leg, Andriy Lunin ensured that Real Madrid returned home from the Red Bull Arena with a win. The goalkeeper made nine saves and gave Real Madrid a 1-0 win over the German side. In the second leg, Lunin's performance was no less impressive even though his number of saves was not too many and he only made three saves in the match at the Bernabeu. However, Lunin made a crucial save in the 10th minute, and Lunin was able to save Benjamin Sesko's chance in a one-on-one situation. If Lunin fails and Madrid falls behind, this will be a critical situation at the start of the 2023/2024 season, Madrid received bitter news because Thibaut Courtois was injured. Los Blancos was not satisfied with just having Lunin in the goalkeeper position and decided to borrow Kepa from Chelsea.

Initially, Kepa and Lunin were played alternately to fill Courtois' position in that phase, Madrid seemed to have no main goalkeeper. However, recently he has played more often than Kepa and his performance is also very stable. Lunin recorded two clean sheets in four Champions League matches meanwhile, from 15 La Liga matches, Lunin recorded seven clean sheets.