Fran Gonzalez to make Real Madrid debut; Thibaut Courtois missing vs. Valencia
Real Madrid goalkeeper Fran Gonzalez is set to make his first-team debut in Saturday's La Liga match against Valencia due to injury concerns around Thibaut Courtois and Andriy Lunin.
Courtois has missed Madrid's recent matches against Leganes and Real Sociedad after sustaining a muscular injury during the international break with Belgium, while Lunin suffered discomfort in his leg in the league win over Leganes.
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Courtois is aiming to return for Tuesday's Champions League match at Arsenal but will sit out the match at home to Valencia, while Ukrainian goalkeeper Lunin will also not play. He is, however, included on the substitutes' bench.
Elsewhere, Rodrygo is rested with Brahim Diaz replacing him while Aurelien Tchouameni plays at centre-back ahead of Raul Asencio.
Gonzalez, 19, joined the club from Cultural Leonesa in 2022 but has yet to make a first-team appearance for Madrid, but has been an unused substitute in Carlo Ancelotti's matchday squad on 59 occasions across recent seasons.
Madrid can move level on points with La Liga leaders Barcelona with victory. Barca face Real Betis later on Saturday.
Analysis by Real Madrid correspondent Guillermo Rai
This is the third season Gonzalez has trained with the first team but he has yet to make his senior debut. Goalkeeping coach Luis Llopis is a big admirer and selected him to join Thibaut Courtois and Andriy Lunin for Madrid's pre-season tour of the United States last summer.
Club sources say Ancelotti calls him his 'Buffon' because his 6ft 6in (199cm) frame reminds him of the former Italy and Juventus No 1.
Gonzalez is comfortable coming off his line and is extremely agile. He arrived in the U.S. two days after being part of the Spain squad that won the Under-19 European Championship in Northern Ireland — although he did not play — and is represented by the same agency as former Madrid No 1 Iker Casillas.
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