Jude Bellingham starts for Real Madrid in the Champions League final while Thibaut Courtois is given the nod over Andriy Lunin in goal against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley
Jude Bellingham has been named in Real Madrid’s starting XI for tonight’s Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund.
The midfield sensation will look to cap a sparkling debut season with Madrid by lifting the famous trophy at the expense of his former club at Wembley.
Bellingham, 20, joined Madrid from Dortmund last summer in a deal worth an initial £88.5 million and has since scored 23 goals in all competitions.
Carlo Ancelotti has also given the nod to goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois while Andriy Lunin was dropped to the bench. Courtois has only played four games this season.
The Belgian stopper suffered a cruciate ligament injury last August and in his absence Lunin acted as an excellent substitute, becoming number 1 for Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Jude Bellingham has been named in Real Madrid’s starting XI for the Champions League final
The midfield sensation will cap off a sparkling debut season with Madrid at Wembley
Lunin performed heroics in Madrid’s quarter-final shootout win against Manchester City but will not be involved after coming down with the flu.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, boss Ancelotti said: ‘Lunin has had the flu. It did not allow him to train or travel.”
Madrid, who have already won LaLiga and the Spanish Super Cup this season, came into the mouth-watering confrontation against Dortmund with an almost fully fit team.
In attack, Ancelotti has opted for his usual three up front: Vinicius Junior, Bellingham and Rodrygo. Bellingham is expected to fill his now familiar number 10 role.
Toni Kroos will aim to clinch Madrid’s 15th European Cup in his final club match after announcing his retirement from football after the 2024 European Championship this summer.
Thibaut Courtois has been given the nod despite only starting four games this season
Madrid supporters held up large Bellingham banners around Wembley before the match
Aurelien Tchouameni, who was expected to miss the match entirely, has been named to the bench, while Eduardo Camavinga has been moved into central midfield.
Joselu, the unlikely scorer of both of Real Madrid’s goals in their dramatic second-leg victory against Bayern Munich, is also among the substitutes.
David Alaba, Luka Modric and Eder Militao can also be called in by Ancelotti.
In the Dortmund camp, Marco Reus will pull on his club’s shirt for the last time, while Jadon Sancho will try to win the trophy borrowed from Manchester United.
Sancho will return to Old Trafford soon, but his long-term future is uncertain.
