Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti concluded his team’s goalkeeper discussion on Friday by announcing that Belgian Thibaut Courtois will start over Ukraine’s Andriy Lunin in the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium.

Courtois, widely regarded as one of the world’s top goalkeepers, has started five games since returning from a lengthy layoff following a torn ACL in August.

His comeback had presented the Italian coach with a difficult decision, since stand-in Lunin shined during Real’s LaLiga title campaign and was the hero when the club defeated Manchester City on penalties to get to the Champions League semi-final.

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Ancelotti had kept his cards close to his chest for the past several weeks, but with Lunin missing Real’s final week of training and unable to travel with the group owing to a virus, the decision was made easier.

“Lunin has had the flu and will travel from Madrid tomorrow.

“He is fine, but tomorrow he will be on the bench. Courtois will play,” Ancelotti told a press conference at Wembley on Friday.

Sitting alongside his captain Nacho and midfielder Luka Modric, Ancelotti admitted that his club is aware that they are considered heavy favourites against a Dortmund team that finished fifth in the Bundesliga this season.

“However, the Italian stated that he and his players were experienced enough not to fall into the trap of being overconfident.

“A final is the most important match, but also the most dangerous.

“You have to enjoy being here, and we’re going to do that, but then there’s the worry that something could go wrong,”

“You feel that winning the Champions League is very close and you’re afraid that it might slip away.

” The important thing is that we know that we have to do everything very well, have a bit of luck and never give up.”