Real Madrid have been handed a huge boost with a key player returning to the squad just hours before the Champions League final.
Real Madrid will take on Borussia Dortmund in the final of the Champions League at Wembley Stadium, London, on Saturday evening, looking to win the competition for an unprecedented 15th time.
However, it looked as though Carlo Ancelotti's side would have to do so without the help of a key player.
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Earlier this week it was confirmed that goalkeeper Andriy Lunin - who has deputised for the injured Thibaut Courtois for much of the season - missed training between Monday and Wednesday due to suffering with flu.
The Ukrainian fid not travel to London on Thursday with the Madrid squad, and that evening appeared to rule himself out of the game.
On Thursday he wrote on Instagram: "I’m so sorry that I can’t prepare for the most important game of the season and the most important in my life together with the team…
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"Thank you so much for all your messages, support and encouragement!!! Here’s to the 15th."
However, on Saturday afternoon, hours before kick-off, Los Blancos announced that Lunin has joined his teammates at the Grove Hotel in London.
Lunin will presumably be available for selection, although Ancelotti is expected to select Courtois after the Belgian goalkeeper returned to action last month.
Courtois suffered an ACL on the eve of the 2023-24 season, but returned to action in April and started five of Madrid's final six league matches.
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Lunin made 21 appearances in La Liga and eight in the Champions League this season after fighting off competition from loanee Kepa Arrizabalaga, and the 25-year-old saved two penalties in the quarter-final shootout victory against reigning champions Manchester City,
Topics: Real Madrid, Champions League, Thibaut Courtois, Carlo Ancelotti, Borussia Dortmund, Wembley Stadium, Football
Alex Brotherton