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Fans may have missed Real Madrid's bizarre goal kick routine 43 seconds into game vs Man City

Home> Football> Football News> Champions League

Published 13:55 18 Apr 2024 GMT+1

Fans may have missed Real Madrid's bizarre goal kick routine 43 seconds into game vs Man City

Real Madrid tried a unique approach to their opening goal kick - but it didn't work out.

Ryan Smart

Ryan Smart

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Featured Image Credit: TNT Sports

Topics: Real Madrid, Federico Valverde, La Liga, Football, Manchester City, Champions League

Ryan Smart
Ryan Smart

Live in constant hope of the top flight as a Preston North End fan. Written in the past for SPORF, GiveMeSport and more.

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Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin was the penalty shootout hero against Manchester City - and fans noticed a peculiar moment involving the Ukrainian at the start of the match.

The shot-stopper saved penalties from Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic in the shootout, and watched from metres away as Antonio Rudiger converted the winning spot kick for Los Blancos.

It was a night to remember for the 25-year-old, who made 10 saves throughout the 120 minutes in what was the biggest match of his career to date.

They included five saves after half-time as Real came under heavy pressure, and his contribution limited the score on the night to 1-1 and ensured that the game would go to extra time and penalties.

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In the early exchanges of the match, fans spotted an unusual moment involving the goalkeeper.

After 43 seconds, Real were awarded a goal kick - with Lunin deciding to step aside to allow Federico Valverde to take it instead.

Such an occurrence is more common in the modern era, with outfielders sometimes starting moves at the back instead of the goalkeeper.

But instead of laying the ball off to a team-mate, Valverde attempted a knuckleball-type technique that launched the ball upfield.

And his goal kick missed all of his Real Madrid team-mates, instead bouncing before landing at the feet at Manuel Akanji in the City midfield.

You can see the goal kick below.

What was even more unusual was that Valverde was playing in midfield, so had to sprint back into position straight after the goal kick.

The Uruguay international took a number of other goal kicks throughout the contest, although Lunin was on duty throughout extra time.

Speaking after the match, Lunin did not explain the reason behind the routine, but did open up on his emotions after the dramatic penalty shootout.

He said: "All the players who were left on the pitch were prepared, and I had to take a chance with one of them [City's penalties in the shootout]. Fortunately it worked out well. In one [Bernardo Silva's penalty] I had to stay in the centre.

"Sometimes you have games where you have to dig in and fight your way through. You can't always play with the ball or be the best team on the pitch.

"It was an amazing experience for me and the team put in an incredible effort for the 120 minutes. The man of the match today is the team."

  • Jude Bellingham was left stunned by Fede Valverde's outrageous hat-trick goal
  • Federico Valverde becomes 20th player to earn perfect 10/10 rating from L'Equipe. Who are the rest?
  • Federico Valverde reveals what Vini Jr said to him moments before penalty miss
  • Real Madrid star told he can leave with club eyeing up replacement

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