When Courtois was Santillana

Soccer has very marked roles, but when one of its protagonists skips them, prodigious things usually happen that are remembered over time. It happened with the Higuita's Scorpion save at Wembley, with Panenka's penalty that sunk Germany in the 1976 Euro Cup final, or the incredible goal by Palop with Sevilla in the Shakhtar field, heading after a corner thrown by Alves, which prevented the Hispanics from being eliminated (then they ended up winning their second consecutive UEFA Cup that year). Well, a Palop is what Courtois achieved in Mestalla less than a year ago.

The December 15 Valencia and Real Madrid were measured at Mestalla, with the whites needing to get a point at least to be able to reach the Camp Nou Classic three days later, even with the Catalans. The match broke in the minute 77. Carlos Soler scored for the che in a counter and everything was upset. With the center of the field unraveled when Zidane reserved Casemiro for the battle of the Camp Nou (the Brazilian had four cards and the Marseille did not want to risk him), Valencia had options to sign the final 2-0, but Courtois avoided it with two great saves. Zizou, desperate, took out all the artillery in attack, putting together Benzema to Vinicius, Bale and Jovic. The last few minutes were crazy. The referee, Sánchez Martínez, discounted five minutes and just at that last moment, Madrid had a corner …

Since there was no time for more, Courtois launched himself to finish it off as it was. He got up with his almost two meters above the Valencian rear (Gabriel Paulista and Garay did not smell where he came from) and Shark He connected an imposing head butt, frontal, a la Santillana. The force of the shot forced Jaume to clear as best he could to avoid the 1-1, but Benzema was attentive and clinched the final tie that to the madridistas it tasted like a victory. Fede Valverde's celebration is still remembered, kneeling on the grass, aware that this turning point was going to relaunch his team to the title that he finally won.

Courtois said after the match: “I'm six feet tall and they got a little nervous. I went up because I knew it was the last play and you had to be there …”. Zidane smiled about it: “The upload has been decided Shark and has done well. This is Real Madrid. He never lowers his arms. “ The one who lifted them was Courtois … with his head.