Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti was quick to lavish praise on Andriy Lunin, on the back of the shot-stopper’s stellar display versus RB Leipzig.
Real, and Lunin, of course marked their return to action a short time ago.
Turning attentions back towards matters on the continent, Los Blancos made the trip to Germany, for the first leg of their Champions League Last-16 tie with Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig.
And, when all was said and done, the evening’s visitors secured a crucial advantage to take back to Spain for the return leg in three weeks’ time.
Brahim Díaz proved himself the difference-maker when it came to the scoreline, bagging the only goal of the game courtesy of a stunning individual effort early in the 2nd-half:
But, in the eyes of many, it was the aforementioned Andriy Lunin who stood out as the real hero on the night.
On his way to a richly-deserved clean sheet, Ukrainian international Lunin was in absolutely unbeatable form at the Red Bull Arena, en route to a whopping nine saves.
As much proved enough to secure for the 25-year-old a place in the record books, with Lunin having matched sidelined teammate Thibaut Courtois as the goalkeeper with the most saves without conceding in the Champions League for Real Madrid (since records began in 2003/04).
And one individual who was not shy in admitting that, without Lunin, Los Merengues would likely have emerged this evening with at most a point, comes in the form of Carlo Ancelotti.
Speaking to the media a short time ago, the Italian tactician was drawn on his goalkeeper’s latest fine display.
And Ancelotti went on to label tonight’s as Lunin’s best performance ‘since I met him’:
“It could have ended in a draw, let’s be honest. This was Lunin’s best game since I met him.”
Conor Laird | GSFN
