Lunin saves Real Madrid to win 3-2, avoiding extra time.

At El Prado, Real Madrid beat CF Talavera 3-2 in the Copa Del Rey, but that victory was only secured thanks to a brilliant last-minute performance from Andriy Lunin. The Ukrainian goalkeeper, in his role as captain, denied a certain goal in the 90+3 minute, saving his team from extra time against a third-tier opponent and preserving some stability in manager Xabi Alonso's position.

The decisive moment in injury time.

The match seemed decided when Real Madrid led 3-1 against CF Talavera. But football rarely follows a simple script. In the 90+1 minute, Gonzalo Di Renzo reduced the deficit to 2-3, reigniting hope for the home team and dragging Real into tense injury time.

Talavera launched a full-scale attack. In the 90+3 minute, Isaiah rose high to head home a powerful equalizer, a shot that many in the El Prado stands were ready to celebrate. It was the moment that marked the boundary between a hard-fought victory and a nightmare night with an unwanted extra time for Real Madrid.

And Lunin appeared at the right moment. With reflexes likened to "a cat's," he dived full stretch, using his fingertips to push the ball away at the last minute. That save in the 90+3 minute not only ended Talavera's fight-or-flight attempt, but also became the biggest highlight of the match.

Post-match statistics show that Lunin made a total of 3 crucial saves. His xGOT (expected goals from shots on target) was 1.76. Conceding 2 goals in that situation isn't bad, especially considering one of the goals came from a shot into an empty net after hitting the crossbar, leaving Lunin with almost no chance to intervene.

The captain's armband and the moment in the dressing room.

Notably, Lunin entered this match as captain. This was a rare honor, stemming from the fact that he is the longest-serving first-team player on the pitch, since 2020. The captain's armband placed an additional responsibility on the shoulders of a goalkeeper who is accustomed to playing a supporting role behind Thibaut Courtois.

Lunin repaid that trust with a performance that truly embodied the team's strength. Not only did he make crucial saves, but he maintained his focus throughout the 90 minutes and was a source of moral support when the team began to falter in the final minutes.

Immediately after the final whistle, an emotional scene unfolded in the dressing room. Coach Xabi Alonso went straight to the "reserve goalkeeper" to express his gratitude. The Spanish manager shared his heartfelt feelings after the hard-fought 3-2 victory:

"You're amazing, Andriy. That last-minute save was the result of incredible concentration and positioning. You saved us from going into extra time and unnecessary physical exhaustion."

That praise wasn't just encouraging. It accurately reflected Lunin's importance on a night when Real Madrid risked completely losing the initiative they had established earlier.

Lunin and the pressure surrounding Xabi Alonso's project.

Xabi Alonso's football project is facing many obstacles. In this context, being dragged into extra time by a third-tier opponent, or worse, losing the victory, would be a heavy blow in terms of both media attention and internal confidence.

Lunin, with his crucial saves, helped Real Madrid avoid that scenario. He not only secured a 3-2 victory but also preserved some of Real Madrid's prestige in a tournament where every misstep can be scrutinized down to the smallest detail.

That's why many people see Lunin's performance as an act of "saving the job" for coach Xabi Alonso. However, the Ukrainian goalkeeper himself chose a very different answer when asked about this.

The humility of the Ukrainian goalkeeper

When asked if he had just "saved the coach's job," Lunin responded with his usual composure:

"I don't think that way. This has been my job since I was a child. I have to help the team and always be ready. None of us doubt Xabi. He's a young, talented coach and we need time to adapt to the changes."

In his few words, Lunin revealed two things: he clearly recognized his professional role, and at the same time expressed his confidence in the coach. It was the kind of statement that helped reduce pressure, rather than adding more pressure, on the coaching staff in such a sensitive situation.

Living in Courtois' shadow and the dilemma of the future.

Despite often living in the shadow of Thibaut Courtois, Lunin never complained. At Valdebebas, he was seen as a role model of professionalism: always training seriously, accepting his role, but ready to shine whenever given the opportunity.

Lunin's contract with Real Madrid runs until 2030, indicating the club views him as a long-term asset in goal. However, if an offer of around 30 million euros emerges, Real Madrid is reportedly unlikely to stand in the way, allowing him more opportunities to be a regular starter elsewhere.

Currently, all those theories remain in the future. What is certain is that whenever Real Madrid needs him, Lunin responds. In the early hours of the morning at Talavera, he once again proved that he is not just a "supporting actor," but a silent hero, preserving hope for a dynasty facing many upheavals.

Lunin's standout statistics against CF Talavera

Looking at those statistics, it's easy to understand why, after the final whistle, Xabi Alonso's first stop was Lunin. In a match where Real Madrid nearly lost everything in the final minutes, it was the Ukrainian goalkeeper's hands that secured the victory and brought temporary peace of mind to the coaching staff.