A Close Shave in the Penalty Shootout
Antonio Rudiger seemed to have a sixth sense about where Mateo Kovacic would place his penalty. In a frantic moment caught on tape, he was seen pointing to his left—right where the goalie needed to dive. Andriy Lunin, catching the hint, made a spectacular dive to his right, blocking Kovacic’s shot. This was a game-changer, setting the stage for Real Madrid to edge past Manchester City in a nail-biting finish.
As the match went on, the drama only thickened. After Luka Modric’s own penalty got thwarted by Ederson, Bernardo Silva stepped up, only to bungle his shot straight into Lunin’s waiting arms. It turns out, Kepa Arrizabalaga might’ve tipped Lunin off about Silva’s likely middle-shot strategy, a repeat of their Chelsea days showdown in the 2019 Carabao Cup final.
The tension was palpable as Lunin stood his ground this time, having learned his lesson. Earlier, he and Kepa had a deep chat, possibly about this very moment.
Lunin admitted post-game that he had strategized to take a risk on one of the penalties by staying in the middle. His gutsy move paid off, helping Real Madrid not just save the day but also secure a spot in the semifinals against Bayern Munich. This win wasn’t just a stroke of luck; it was a testament to teamwork and sheer determination.
Carlo Ancelotti’s squad is now gearing up to face the German giants, hoping to keep their winning streak alive after a thrilling 3-2 aggregate win over Arsenal.
