Ukrainian may play next match with Valencia on injections
Andrey Lunin, photo – Getty Images
Ukrainian goalkeeper of Real Madrid Andriy Lunin suffered a ruptured soleus muscle in the match against Real Sociedad (4:4) in the Spanish Cup.
The goalkeeper was injured in the 50th minute of the cup match and played the rest of the match (including overtime) with the injury. Spanish media report that the Ukrainian risks being out for four weeks due to the injury. At the same time, Andriy still has a chance to play in the next match with Valencia with a painkiller injection.
It was previously reported that Lunin felt discomfort in his right foot immediately after the cup match. The club is confident that Andrey will be able to recover for the next game in the Spanish championship. On Friday, the Ukrainian will be tested again during another training session. After that, the coaching staff will decide whether Lunin will be able to play in the next match.
Let us recall that in the semi-final match of the King's Cup, the Ukrainian replaced the Blancos' main goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. The Belgian goalkeeper missed the game due to muscle strain. If Andriy is unable to play, 19-year-old Fran Gonzalez has a chance to take the place in goal.
The Ukrainian's match against Real Sociedad was his 12th for the Madrid team this season in all tournaments (four clean sheets, 19 goals conceded). It was reported that the Madrid coaching staff was unhappy with Lunin's performance in the semi-finals, and in the final game of the King's Cup against Barcelona they are leaning towards the option with Courtois.
Real are second in La Liga with 63 points. Carlo Ancelotti's side next face Valencia on April 5.