Real Madrid vs. Chelsea: 5 players who could decide the second leg of the Champions League quarterfinal
1. Thibaut Courtois
I’ve said it a hundred times, but I’ll say it again: Thibaut Courtois is having the season of his life, and no one can argue with him save a few English “pundits.” Along with other versatile personalities like Karim Benzema and Luka Modric, he is one of Real Madrid’s most important contributors this season.
The Belgian is now one of the world’s best goalkeepers, and he is likely to take the throne in the near term. There’s no way he wouldn’t be placed higher than many others in the Ballon d’Or rankings this season, and he could even have a chance to finish in the top ten.
While protecting the sticks at Stamford Bridge, surrounded by boos and whistles, Courtois demonstrated why he deserves to be spoken about more. Several great stops were made, the most memorable being a dazzling shot coming off Cesar Azpilicueta’s boot. Once again, the keeper proved to be extremely valuable to Real.
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In terms of comprehending Chelsea’s comeback effort on Wednesday, Courtois will have a greater weight on his shoulders due to a few concerns in the defence. The titleholders will try all in their force to break through the Belgian wall, and as a result, his role in defending the lead and securing a semifinal position for Real will be more essential than ever.