Real Madrid: Thibaut Courtois has been 2020’s impact player
Thibaut Courtois is Real Madrid’s latest difference-maker.
Before the 2019-2020 La Liga season began, Thibaut Courtois faced more criticism than any other Real Madrid player, even Gareth Bale. But as the season wore on, the criticisms turned to praise, as Courtois won over the harshest of detractors.
At one point in 2019-2020, some Madridistas openly wanted Real to start Alphonse Areola, a loanee from PSG signed to be Courtois’ backup after Keylor Navas was sold to Paris. Areola is an impressive goalkeeper, but Courtois proved why he is simply on a different level.
By March when the 2019-2020 La Liga and Champions League seasons were postponed due to a pandemic, Courtois had reestablished himself as arguably the world’s best keeper. It was a distinction he held before joining Real in the summer 2018 transfer window.
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Courtois outplayed world-class goalkeeper Jan Oblak and Marc Andre ter Stegen for much of the season, as Real Madrid shut out FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in all five of their head-to-head competitions, whether it was La Liga or the Spanish Supercup.
Statistically, Courtois has recorded at least three saves in six games this year, per FBRef.com, and he’s recorded a total of five clean sheets.
No goalkeeper in La Liga has allowed fewer goals per 90 minutes this season than Courtois, who is more likely than even Getafe’s David Soria to record a clean sheet.
Speaking of Getafe, Courtois made save after save in a 3-0 Jan. 4 win over the surprise Champions League contenders, recording a total of four saves in the victory to kick-off the year.
Each of those stops was world-class, as Courtois kept Real Madrid in the game against their tough, in-city rivals.
Isco, Vinicius Junior, Raphael Varane, and others have been tremendous for Los Blancos in 2020 thus far, but nobody has made a more profound impact on the team than Courtois. Real Madrid shut out Atletico Madrid twice, Getafe once, and Barcelona once in 2020.
In this calendar year, Courtois has brought his absolute best against some of Real’s toughest challengers possible.
When the 2019-2020 La Liga season returns and Los Blancos take the field on June 14 against Eibar, it’s hard to bet against Courtois having a remarkable second half of the season to continue his stunning 2020. It wouldn’t be difficult to envision him maintaining his lead in goals allowed per 90 and jumping Soria for the most clean sheets in total, getting off on the right foot with a clean sheet against Eibar.
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Courtois’ reflexes, consistency, calmness on the ball, confidence, and reach make him one of the world’s most prized keepers. He has been a joy to watch in between the sticks at the Santiago Bernabeu, and he is Real Madrid’s impact player thus far in 2020.