REAL MADRID goalkeeper Thibault Courtois is yet to win his club’s fans over having had a shocking run in the season so far.
That fact was further cemented after the applause from Real fans towards their former keeper Keylor Navas filled the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu stadium during their Champions League Group A draw with Paris Saint-Germain yesterday.
Former Real Madrid goalkeeper given standing ovation during Champions League game with PSGCredit: EPA
Now PSG keeper, Navas, was given a standing ovation by the home crowd after the 2-2 result.
The 32-year-old from Costa Rica is remembered fondly by Real fans having been a part of the team which saw three successive Champions League triumphs between 2016 and 2018.
Navas kept PSG in the game after Karim Benzema gave Madrid a 2-0 lead scoring in both halves.
PSG came back though, through Kylian Mbappe and Pablo Sarabia who both scored late on, securing the draw.
But, back to Belgian keeper Courtois who had another mistake to add to his tally this campaign.
Only this time, he escaped his fate.
The 27-year-old brought down Mauro Icardi as he raced in for a goal, which initially resulted in a red card and a penalty for the visitors.
Benzema had put Real 1-0 ahead at this stage in the game.
But a controversial VAR decision, reversed that, keeping the former Chelsea stopper on and awarding the home side a free-kick.
Portuguese referee Artur Dias stunned everyone by taking it right back to the very start of the move where PSG’s Idrissa Gueye won the ball off Marcelo in the midfield, with a shove.
Meaning, a free-kick to Real from the centre-circle.
Fans were left reeling at the decision, stating on Twitter that it is ”the most controversial decision in the history of VAR so far”.
Others saying: ”VAR will kill football”.
Paris Saint-Germain know how it feels to have technology go against them, having been left infuriated by a late penalty given for a handball against Manchester United last year, giving The Reds a dramatic comeback and eliminating them from the last 16.
Courtois is the second-highest paid goalkeeper in the world, but as many would agree he doesn’t appear to be earning his money at the moment, having conceded more goals than he’s made saves this season.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
