Real Madrid 2-0 Barcelona: Hits and Flops as Los Blancos record statement El Clasico victory | La Liga 2019-20

#4 Thibaut Courtois – Hit

Thibaut Courtois

In the 2018 off-season, Thibaut Courtois was embroiled in a long-running transfer saga, which eventually culminated with the Belgian completing a move to the Los Blancos. Since then, the shot stopper has found it tough to endear himself to the Madrid faithful, considering his patchy form and the fact that he displaced Keylor Navas.

To put things into perspective, several panned the Belgian at the start of the current campaign and many were left aggrieved at the club’s decision to persist with him at the Costa Rican’s expense.

However, over the past few months, Courtois has turned in numerous accomplished performances, meaning that the has silenced his doubters, to an extent. And, against Barcelona, he continued that trend rather emphatically.

For much of the first half, the Belgian barely had anything to do as the Blaugrana kept passing the ball in midfield without really penetrating. Yet, as the minutes ticked by, the visitors began carving out openings and did so in the 34th minute when Arthur Melo raced clear of Toni Kroos.

The Brazilian then found himself eyeball to eyeball with the keeper and the latter came out on top with a brilliant save. Four minutes later, Courtois was on hand to parry Lionel Messi’s goal-bound shot away from goal.

In the second half too, the Belgian looked calm and composed under crosses and seemed a goalkeeper that had tided over the ailments that had plagued the early part of his Real Madrid career.

And, to cap off his display, Courtois produced another sensational save when Martin Braithwaite bore down on goal in the 70th minute. For quite a bit of the 2018-19 and the 2019-20 season, it seemed that the Belgian keeper was destined to fall into a rather long list of illustrious players to not carve a niche for themselves at Real Madrid.

However, if he keeps conjuring such displays, those notions would be put to bed pretty soon.