Real Madrid: 4 things we learned from the 2019-2020 season

Thibaut Courtois is one of the best again

Despite playing three fewer games than the Getafe goalkeeper, Real Madrid star Thibaut Courtois tied for the league lead with 12 clean sheets last season. No keeper allowed fewer goals per 90 minutes than the former Atleti standout – not even current Rojiblancos star Jan Oblak, nor fellow rival Marc Andre ter Stegen. Furthermore, only Aitor Fernandez and Unai Simon had a higher save percentage among full-time starters.

Courtois did all this after beginning the season as a scapegoat, with the most vociferous criticisms occurring after a woeful 2-2 draw with Club Brugge in an October Champions League fixture. The Belgian keeper was roundly lambasted following a half-time substitution due to illness, and the unkind words were the culmination of frustrations from some fans.

But not only did Courtois overcome that rough patch, he overcame. After a poor first season with Real Madrid in 2018-2019, Courtois repaid the faith the organization showed in him, displaying to the world exactly why he was once regarded as the world’s best.

By leading the league in two goalkeeping categories and making important save after important save, Courtois has quietly put himself back in the discussion as the best keeper in the world. His class is easy to see, and his ability to thrive under pressure makes him the ideal goalkeeper to defend the posts at the Santiago Bernabeu.