Topics: Real Madrid, Thibaut Courtois, Football
Thibaut Courtois produced a truly monumental penalty save in Real Madrid's Super Cup triumph over Athletic Bilbao.
Courtois kept a clean sheet as Real beat Bilbao 2-0 in Saudi Arabia to secure their 12th Super Cup title.
Luka Modric opened the scoring in the 34th minute, with Karim Benzema converting a penalty in the 52nd minute.
And the team had Courtois to thank for preventing Bilbao from scoring as the Belgium keeper performed wonders late on.
Bilbao were awarded a spot kick after Eder Militao blocked a shot with his hand.
But Courtois denied Raul Garcia, brilliantly saving his penalty with his trailing leg.
Garcia fired the penalty down the middle, with the ex-Chelsea man incredibly keeping it out with his left leg.
Fans and critics alike praised his penalty save, hailing it as one of the greatest penalty saves in history.
One tweeted: "Thibaut Courtois is the best goalkeeper in the world. It doesn’t matter when you’re reading this."
A second wrote: "This Courtois penalty save must go down as one of the greatest penalty saves in the history of football."
A third added: "Courtois pulled the best penalty save I’ve ever seen in my life."
Courtois recognised the magnitude of his heroics in net, explaining: "Penalty save? If they score the penalty, there were 7 or 8 minutes left, heart-stopping minutes because against 10 men they would have sent everyone up, and then if it's 2-2 with 10 men it would be difficult in extra time.
"But happy with the first title."
Carlo Ancelotti's side return to action on Thursday when they take on Elche in the Copa del Rey.
