UCL final lineups: Courtois starts, BVB stick with winning formula

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Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has been handed his first start of the 2023-24 Champions League campaign as Real Madrid released their lineup over two-and-half hours before Saturday’s final against Borussia Dortmund.

Courtois replaces Andriy Lunin, who’s been dealing with an illness ahead of the London showpiece. Courtois didn’t feature for Real Madrid this season until May due to a knee ligament injury. The Belgian shot-stopper finishes this term with four La Liga appearances and an outing in the Champions League final.

Aurelien Tchouameni is a surprise inclusion on Carlo Ancelotti’s bench after he was initially ruled out of the match.

Toni Kroos is starting for his final appearance in club football. His final act in the professional game will be with the Germany squad on home soil at Euro 2024.

For Dortmund, fan favorite Marco Reus is on the bench ahead of his exit this summer. Sebastien Haller, who missed time earlier this month with an ankle issue, is also among the substitutes. Edin Terzic’s starting lineup is unchanged from the semifinal second-leg victory over Paris Saint-Germain.

Borussia Dortmund starting XI

(4-2-3-1) Kobel; Ryerson, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Maatsen; Can, Sabitzer; Sancho, Brandt, Adeyemi; Fullkrug

Subs: Meyer, Lotka; Ozcan, Nmecha, Haller, Reus, Wolf, Moukoko, Malen, Sule, Watjen, Bynoe-Gittens

Real Madrid starting XI

(4-3-1-2) Courtois; Carvajal, Rudiger, Nacho, Mendy; Valverde, Camavinga, Kroos; Bellingham; Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior

Subs: Lunin, Kepa; Militao, Alaba, Modric, Joselu, Vazquez, Tchouameni, Ceballos, Garcia, Brahim, Guler