Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is set to start for Real Madrid in the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund on June 1 at Wembley, sources told ESPN.
Courtois has been out for much of the season after suffering two serious knee injuries. He returned against Cádiz in LaLiga on May 4, before missing the second leg of Madrid's Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich.
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Since then, he has kept a clean sheet against Granada and Alavés. He made 10 saves in his last game and received applause from the fans at the Bernabéu.
Sources have told ESPN that the club believe that if he is fit, there is no doubt he will start in the Champions League final.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti believes that Courtois is the best goalkeeper in the world, although he does not want to say so publicly. Even after the 5-0 victory over Alavés, Ancelotti said that in the last two remaining league games each goalkeeper will have the opportunity to play.
However, sources told ESPN that Ancelotti came close to alienating the Belgian goalkeeper after leaving him on the bench against Munich.
Courtois suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in August.
Months later, as he neared his return to action, he injured the meniscus in his right knee. However, Courtois has always been determined to play this season and worked hard to bring forward his return.
Sources told ESPN that Ancelotti believes Courtois' role as the club's first-choice goalkeeper is not in doubt.
However, Andriy Lunin is appreciated, who stepped forward during Courtois' absence. Madrid are keen to extend the Ukrainian goalkeeper's contract until 2029, with a deal close to being finalised.
