How did Courtois actually end up saving Messi’s penalty?

“I knew Messi had missed three on the right”

Thibaut Courtois was the best player of Real Madrid by far in the Parc des Princes. The Belgian goalkeeper was a wall for 93 minutes and supported the Los Blancos with several worthwhile saves, among which was the Messi penalty that he denied.

Goalkeepers study their rivals and stand under the sticks with their homework done is no secret and ‘Tibu’ was no exception. “I knew that Messi had missed three to the right and had put in the other ones, so it was a bit of playing with him on the line,” he commented in the post match interview.

It is the fifth penalty that Leo has missed in the Champions League of the 23 he has tried (the most in both statistics) and it is the first that he has missed against Madrid after a full six out of six with the Barça shirt.

Courtois got a match rating of 9/10. Kept Mbappe at bay with two fine saves in the first half, before denying Lionel Messi from a penalty in the second. Made EIGHT saves in total. But could not stop Mbappe at the death.

Messi’s final goal against Real in the colors of Barca came in May 2018 in a 2–2 draw.