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6 months ago
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Although the war launched by Russia is ravaging Ukraine and making the situation in the country very complicated, Ukrainian football is not doing so badly. With Oleksandr Zinchenko at Arsenal, Mykhaylo Mudryk at Chelsea and the Girona duo of Artem Dovbyk and Viktor Tsygankov shining in La Liga, many Ukrainian players are coming to the fore. This 2023/2024 season also marks a real turning point for two Zbirna gems since Anatoliy Trubin (22 years old) and Andriy Lunin (25 years old) respectively assert themselves among the best goalkeepers on the continent, whether with Benfica or Real Madrid.
Anatoliy Trubin confirmation
Seeing Anatoliy Trubin today assert himself as one of the best goalkeepers on the continent is not very surprising given his career. Very early with his professional debut in February 2020 against Desna with Shakhtar Donetsk, this 1m99 colossus, very solid on his line, exploded the following year with the Minors. Overthrowing the holder and no less legendary Andriy Pyatov (102 caps with Ukraine, indisputable holder for 13 years with Shakhtar Donetsk) quite quickly, Anatoliy Trubin revealed himself especially on October 21, 2020 in the eyes of observers of European football. During a 3-2 victory on the pitch of Real Madrid with a squad eaten away by Covid-19, he had multiplied the exploits to preserve this success. Following three full seasons with the Ukrainian team, also shining in the Champions League and the Europa League with benchmark matches against Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Monaco, Leipzig and Stade Rennais, he changed clubs this summer for go to Benfica. Recruited for 10 million euros by the Lusitanians to succeed Odysseas Vlachodimos who left for Nottingham Forest, Anatoliy Trubin had to adapt to a new environment.
After an anecdotal first against Vizela (2-1), he missed his first in the Champions League against Salzburg, committing a mistake synonymous with a penalty after 3 minutes. Not preventing this 2-0 defeat against the Austrians, he immediately rectified the situation. Playing 31 matches this season (27 goals conceded and 11 clean sheets), he regularly hid the blunders displayed by his defense. Repelling a total of 3 penalties in all competitions, making him the record holder in Europe with Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim), he has recorded no less than 13.71 goals prevented since the start of the year. A true wall of the Portuguese club with which he is leader of the championship and with the best defense (15 goals conceded), Anatoliy Trubin makes everyone agree on his recovery qualities, his interventions and the calm he exudes at the image of his coach Roger Schmidt: “Trubin knows how to get the ball at the right time to the right teammate. His skills are very impressive. Anatoliy was a little fragile at the beginning, but now, thanks to his performances, he has grown considerably at Benfica.
Andriy Lunin, the surprise
Older since he just turned 25, but no less precocious, Andriy Lunin started on October 16, 2016 when he was only 17 with Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk. Having left in the summer of 2017 for Zorya Luhansk since the Blues and Whites had gone bankrupt, he caught the eye of Real Madrid a year later. The Merengues did not hesitate to pay €8.5 million in 2018 for the man who was then 19 years old. A rapid explosion, but one that would experience a sudden slowdown. Following inconclusive loans to Leganés and Real Valladolid, it was ultimately in Oviedo that he would experience his first full year in Spain (20 matches when he arrived in January). In the meantime, he became a U20 world champion with Ukraine in 2019, and has been Thibaut Courtois’ understudy since the summer of 2020. Difficult to exist against the Belgian who has been part of the elite of world football for years and he has mainly helped out for three years (16 appearances). However, the rupture of Thibaut Courtois’ cruciate ligaments this summer restarted things. As he came to a year from the end of his contract, his future was destined far from Madrid, but that is changing. Not offering enough certainty to Real Madrid to be number one all season, Andriy Lunin saw Kepa Arrizabalaga arrive from Chelsea. The Spanish goalkeeper had been rather interesting at the start until an injury in November which restarted everything.
Very good in the absence of his rival, Andriy Lunin provoked a competition between the two goalkeepers and has since won the battle. With 18 appearances for 8 clean sheets and only 14 goals conceded, he shows good qualities which now push Real Madrid to want to keep him. In the Champions League, he notably had a solid match in the round of 16 first leg against RB Leipzig (1-0), making nine saves. If his height is quite classic for a goalkeeper (1m91), he remains lively, fast, solid on his line and quite serene in the recovery. On aerial outings, however, there is still room for improvement. With 8.52 goals prevented since the start of the year, he displays great confidence which is good in the goals of Casa Blanca. “They had chances, but Lunin had a great game. His best match? I think so. He’s a goalkeeper who hasn’t had a lot of playing time and he’s progressing. Playing gives him confidence.” recalled Carlo Ancelotti after this match against Leipzig. While in the selection Anatoliy Trubin took the number one place, Andriy Lunin has not said his last word. Ukraine can at least congratulate itself and relish the presence in its ranks of two of the best goalkeepers of the moment.
