Galatasaray 0-1 Real Madrid: 5 Talking Points | UEFA Champions League 2019-20

#2 Thibaut Courtois keeps a clean sheet

Thibaut Courtois

In the summer of 2018, Thibaut Courtois was acquired from Chelsea as Florentino Perez landed the Galactico signing he had been yearning for. However, it also meant that Los Blancos would have to displace Keylor Navas, a vital cog of their Champions League-winning wheel. Consequently, the Belgian keeper had endured a baptism by fire among the Bernabeu faithful, even before he had made his bow.

Madrid capitulated in the last term and that didn’t help Courtois as the keeper conceded a truckload of goals, thereby contributing to a rather wretched saves-per-goal ratio. And, that trend continued at the start of the current season with many clamouring for the exclusion of the Belgian.

However, against Galatasaray, Courtois strengthened his credentials for a starting berth with a magnificent performance.

In the opening period, the hosts scythed through the Madrid rear-guard numerous times. Yet, the Belgian stood tall whenever called upon and thwarted everything the home side conjured.

Courtois made a couple of crucial saves from Andonne when the score was 0-0 while he also came up trumps against Belhanda, moments after the Los Blancos had taken the lead. After the restart, the Belgian looked calm under crosses and rarely put a foot wrong as the Spanish side claimed their first victory in the UCL this season.

Thus, the former Chelsea keeper had silenced a few doubters courtesy an exemplary performance against Galatasaray. And, though he still faces a rather steep climb on his road to redemption, one reckons such displays wouldn’t really hamper his cause.