Courtois or Navas? Lopetegui tight-tipped on Champions League starter

Dom Farrell

Courtois or Navas? Lopetegui tight-tipped on Champions League starter image

Real Madrid goalkeeper Julen Lopetegui refused to say whether Keylor Navas will be handed a first-team return in Wednesday's Champions League opener against Roma.

Navas was Madrid's first choice in each of their consecutive Champions League triumphs but has lost his spot with the European titleholders to close-season signing Thibaut Courtois.

One option for Lopetegui would be to select Navas as his cup goalkeeper – splitting duties in the same manner as Barcelona once did between Claudio Bravo and Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Although he again praised Costa Rica international Navas at his pre-match news conference, the former Spain boss refused to commit to this course of action.

"Navas is training very well," Lopetegui said. "He's doing what we thought he would do and what he's going to do throughout the season – fight and compete.

"I'm not going to say anything about [which goalkeeper will play]. We have fantastic options in goal and whatever decision we make is going to be a good one.

"I'm not going to say who is going to play and who is not going to play."

Lopetegui moved to allay fears of fatigue surrounding star midfielder Luka Modric.

The playmaker inspired Croatia's run to the World Cup final and was named UEFA Player of the Year following his recent efforts for club and country.

However, the 32-year-old was substituted after an hour of Saturday's 1-1 draw at Athletic Bilbao and has not completed 90 minutes this season.

"After the World Cup players come back at different levels and different times," Lopetegui added.

"I think they are back to their best now. We'll always take the best decision for the team.

"He's had a summer of highs and lows but he's getting through it now and training and playing. I think he's more prepared with each passing day."

Dom Farrell

Dom Farrell Photo

Dom is the senior content producer for Sporting News UK. He previously worked as fan brands editor for Manchester City at Reach Plc. Prior to that, he built more than a decade of experience in the sports journalism industry, primarily for the Stats Perform and Press Association news agencies. Dom has covered major football events on location, including the entirety of Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup in Paris and St Petersburg respectively, along with numerous high-profile Premier League, Champions League and England international matches. Cricket and boxing are his other major sporting passions and he has covered the likes of Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, Wladimir Klitschko, Gennadiy Golovkin and Vasyl Lomachenko live from ringside.