Prediction: Why Real Madrid star will set a defensive record at Granada
Real Madrid will have a lot on the line against Granada on Monday night.
The 2019-2020 La Liga season has been filled with trials and injuries for Real Madrid, but they are capable of winning the title if they can close out the final three games of the season. They’ve passed their first eight tests, not dropping any points and obtaining a four-point advantage over rivals FC Barcelona in their table.
Real’s recent defensive form has been particularly impressive. Los Blancos have not allowed a goal in five straight games, as Real Sociedad were the last team to put the ball in the back of the net against them. And while the credit is shared amongst all the players who have started in Real’s defense, including young center back Eder Militao, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois may deserve the most plaudits.
Courtois is La Liga’s leading goalkeeper in a number of key statistics. Per FBRef.com, he has two more clean sheets than Jan Oblak despite starting four fewer games, and he’s averaging the least goals per 90 minutes with 0.56.
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On Monday night at Los Carmenes, Courtois has the opportunity to break his own record. If he can keep a clean sheet for 78 minutes, he’ll have broken his record of 535 straight minutes without allowing a goal, per MARCA’s Miguel Angel Lara and J.L. Calderon.
It’s been a remarkable season from Courtois, who answered the critics in the early Fall after his poor introductory season to life at the Santiago Bernabeu. Since then, Courtois has been arguably the best keeper in the world, gaining the leg-up on the incredible Oblak in the Zamora award race.
Granada have a talented team with the likes of Darwin Machis in the starting lineup and La Liga veteran Roberto Soldado off the bench, but Real Madrid are on a streak of clean sheets and have kept out even more talented attacking sides off the scoresheet this season.
Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, for example, have never scored on Real in 2019-2020. Valencia suffered the same fate in both 2020 fixtures, including one in June.
Courtois will also have his best back four in front of him. Dani Carvajal and Sergio Ramos are back from suspension, and Raphael Varane and Ferland Mendy are healthy and ready to go. With Casemiro shielding them and the rest of the team providing high energy, Courtois won’t be short on support.
He may be asked to make a couple of more big saves, but, with his confidence and skill, that should be no problem. Courtois will rise to the occasion when needed, as he’s always done in 2019-2020 for Los Blancos.
Next. 3 advantages for Real Madrid against Granada. dark
Get ready for another club record to fall at the feet of the big Belgian. Better yet, it’s his own record. Of course, the 78 minutes won’t be Courtois’ goal. He’ll want a sixth straight clean sheet to tie a clean sheet record. And then close out the season with two more to help seal the title. This team is on a fearless run and don’t look ready to concede soon.