November 30, 2019. Mendizorroza Stadium, Vitoria. Real Madrid visit Alaves in difficult weather conditions – pouring rain, a wet pitch, an aggressive opponent. In such a situation, a goalkeeper who can handle not only the ball, but also the chaos is especially important. And Thibaut Courtois is just that person. At the start of the match, Alaves immediately shows its aggressive play, trying to take advantage of the slippery pitch and the pressure on Real’s defense. The home team actively attacks, and Courtois finds himself under pressure. His confidence and reaction become decisive factors in the first minutes of the game. He makes several impressive saves, deflecting shots from close range, and this gives confidence to the whole team.
With each passing moment, the pressure on Real’s goal increases. However, Courtois, an excellent master of his craft, demonstrates amazing concentration. He not only catches the balls, but also positions himself correctly, anticipating the actions of the attackers. In one episode, he parries a powerful shot from the penalty line, thereby stopping the rapid onslaught of Alaves. Despite the difficult conditions, Real is starting to find its game. Long passes into the attack are key, allowing the team to move forward, but each such attempt requires high concentration from the goalkeeper. Courtois continues to perform his duties brilliantly, confidently playing on the exits and not allowing the opponent to create dangerous moments.
In the 30th minute of the match, a key moment occurs: Alaves receives a free kick dangerously close to the goal. The game stops, the spectators hold their breath. Courtois, who has a tall stature and excellent reaction, takes the right position. The shot follows, but the goalkeeper reacts instantly and deflects the ball to the side. This episode becomes significant not only for him, but for the whole team. As the match progresses, the rain intensifies, the pitch becomes increasingly slippery, and every mistake can be costly. However, Courtois remains calm and collected. His confidence is transmitted to his teammates, and they begin to act in a more organized manner. Real finds moments for counterattacks, and soon after another save by Courtois, they open the scoring.
Goals are always an important moment in football, but it is the goalkeeper who often remains in the shadows. However, Courtois demonstrates this evening that he is not just a player, but a real leader on the field. His interaction with the defense improves team play. Every shout from him and command from the goalkeeper helps to create harmony in defense. Towards the end of the second half, the pressure from Alaves is already beginning to weaken. Real confidently controls the ball and creates more and more chances. Courtois, despite this, remains on his guard. He understands that even with the score 1:0, he cannot relax. And so, in the last minutes of the match, Alaves still tries to come back, but Courtois is again on top, parrying a shot from close range. The match is over, Real wins thanks to the brilliant play of their goalkeeper. Thibaut Courtois becomes the hero of the match, his name is heard from the stands, and the fans applaud him. This match not only strengthens Real’s position in the table, but also shows how important the goalkeeper is in today’s football chaos. Courtois has proven that he can cope with any challenges, and it is moments like these that make him indispensable to the team.
At the very beginning of the match, Alaves creates the first dangerous moment – a shot from 10 meters after a cross. Courtois saves it with his foot, in the style of a futsal goalkeeper, and keeps the score at 0:0. This moment was important psychologically – Real entered the game without being shocked. After this save, the team begins to act more confidently. Courtois, setting an example for his defenders, continues to actively communicate with them, suggesting positions and demands. This creates an atmosphere of unity and mutual understanding on the field. Real begins to get used to the wet grass, and the team has an opportunity to improve their game.In the 10th minute of the match, Real responds with an attack: Benzema receives the ball on the edge of the penalty area and, having beaten the defender, passes the ball to Vinicius. The young Brazilian, quickly processing the ball, heads towards the goal, but his shot is blocked by the defender. This is already the second dangerous moment, which indicates that the team is starting to pick up the pace.
Alaves, not wanting to give in, responds with a counterattack. The home team’s striker, taking advantage of a mistake by a defender, breaks forward and strikes, but Courtois is again at his best, demonstrating his reflexes. His confidence seems to be transmitted to the team, and Real begins to control the ball more. In the 25th minute, after a long pass from Modric, Benzema gets a chance to strike. He does not hesitate to strike, but the ball hits the crossbar. This moment inspires the players, and they understand that they are closer to opening the scoring. Soon after, Vinicius, having received the ball on the flank, begins dribbling, dribbling past several defenders. His speed and technique delight the fans.
However, Alaves does not give up. In the 35th minute, they receive a corner. The Real goalkeeper gets ready, carefully monitoring the situation in the penalty area. A shot from the corner follows, the ball flies into the center, and the Alaves defender, taking advantage of the moment, strikes with his head. But Courtois, like a true master, parries the shot, and the ball goes out for a corner. This episode causes a storm of emotions in the stands, but the goalkeeper remains calm. Towards the end of the first half, Alaves’ pressure increases, but Courtois does not allow the opponent to realize their chances. In the 40th minute, he again demonstrates his outstanding abilities, parrying a powerful shot from outside the penalty area. At this moment, it becomes obvious that it is the goalkeeper who can become the key factor in this game. With the start of the second half, Real Madrid begins to act more aggressively. The team coach makes substitutions, introducing fresh players, and this produces results. In the 50th minute, Benzema, having received the ball on the flank, makes a pass into the penalty area, where Vinicius ends up. His shot is slightly inaccurate, but the team spirit grows.
Alaves tries to counterattack, and Courtois is once again at the center of the action. He not only parries the shots, but also directs the defenders, telling them where to position themselves. His leadership qualities become obvious. In the 65th minute, after a quick attack from Real, the team finally opens the scoring. A cross from the flank finds Benzema, who accurately hits the corner of the goal. This goal raises the morale of the team and the fans. As the match ends, Alaves tries to catch up, but Real confidently controls the game. Courtois, despite the score, remains focused. He continues to make important saves, demonstrating his importance to the team. In the final minutes of the match, Alaves gets another chance, but the shot from close range is again parried by the goalkeeper. The match ends with a score of 1:0 in favor of Real. Courtois becomes the hero of the game, his confident play allows the team to maintain the winning score. The spectators applaud, and at this moment it becomes clear that it is matches like this that make football special. Thibaut Courtois is not just a goalkeeper, but a real wall behind which the team feels confident. His contribution to this victory cannot be overestimated, and he is becoming a role model for all young goalkeepers.
In the 65th minute, with the score 1:0 in favor of Real, Alaves gets a penalty. Lucas Perez, an experienced striker, confidently approaches the ball and shoots right into the corner – Courtois reaches it, but does not save. 1:1. It would seem that this is a moment of failure. But Thibaut does not lose concentration. After this shot, the tension on the field increases. Alaves, feeling confident, begins to attack more actively. However, Courtois, despite the missed goal, remains calm and continues to lead his team.
Courtois, continuing to demonstrate confidence, actively supports his defenders, suggesting how best to react to the opponent’s attacks. From time to time, he comes out of his goal to cover the ball and prevent any potential chance for Alaves. His leadership qualities become especially noticeable at this decisive moment of the match. In the 75th minute, Real Madrid receives a corner. The players focus on the set piece, and Courtois remains ready. The pass goes to the center of the penalty area, where Benzema wins the fight in the air and directs the ball towards the goal.
