Suspended After Clasico: Lunin Faces One-Match Ban as Madrid Plans Appeal
29 October 2025
Suspension After Clasico
The Disciplinary Committee of the Spanish Football Federation officially sanctioned Ukrainian goalkeeper Andriy Lunin with a one‑match ban following his sending off in the late moments of the Clasico between Real Madrid and Barcelona in La Liga.
According to AS, Lunin, sent off by referee Cesar Soto Grado after a clash between players at full time, will not be allowed on Real Madrid's bench for the upcoming game against Valencia on Saturday.
Real Madrid intends to file an appeal, arguing that television footage does not show any clear aggressive conduct by the young goalkeeper during the events after the match.
If the appeal is not accepted, Fran Gonzalez, a Castilla goalkeeper aged 20, would step in on the first team’s list, with Sergio Mistry as the third option.
Details of the Match and Lunin's Future
At the end of the Clasico, the referee produced one red card and six yellow cards — four to Real Madrid players and three to Barcelona players.
For Madrid, Militao, Rodrygo, and Vinicius received yellow cards after the final whistle, with no insulting or threatening language reported in the referee’s notes.
Lunin’s red card came for leaving the substitutes’ bench and moving toward the rival substitutes’ bench in an aggressive manner, prompting teammates to intervene, according to Soto Grado’s official report.
Fran Gonzalez (20) is one of Real Madrid’s most promising academy talents, currently guarding Castilla’s goal under Alvaro Arbeloa.
He had shone for Spain at the Under-20 World Cup in Chile, catching eyes with his performances. He models himself after Thibaut Courtois and has trained with the first team on several occasions under Carlo Ancelotti, who has likened him to a young Buffon at times.
As Madrid pursues a legal path to mitigate or overturn the sanction, the club awaits the final decision from the appeals committee to determine Lunin’s status for the Valencia fixture.
Young goalkeeper
Andriy Oleksiyovych Lunin, born February 11, 1999, in the Ukrainian city of Perystia, is regarded as one of Europe’s rising goalkeepers. He began his career at Metalist Kharkiv, then moved to Dnipro, before making notable strides in Ukrainian football.
In 2017 he joined Zorya Luhansk, where his performances drew attention from major European clubs. In the summer of 2018 Real Madrid signed him, making him one of the youngest keepers to join the royal ranks. Despite his talent, he faced competition from the veteran Courtois and spent time on loan at several Spanish clubs to gain minutes and experience.
His loan spells included Leganés, Valladolid, and Real Oviedo, before returning to Madrid in 2020–2021. Since then he has gradually pushed for more minutes, particularly during the 2023–2024 season when Courtois’ injury opened opportunities.
Internationally, Lunin has represented Ukraine at various youth levels and helped the Under-20 team win the 2019 World Cup in Chile, earning the tournament’s Golden Glove as the best goalkeeper. He has also been called up to the senior national team since 2018.
Lunin is known for quick reflexes, composure under pressure, and a good read of the game, which has led many to believe he could become a mainstay for Real Madrid in the years ahead, potentially succeeding the club’s legendary shot-stoppers.
As Madrid continues its legal path and monitors the appeals process, all eyes will be on the verdict that could shape Lunin’s role for the Valencia match and beyond, with fans hoping the ban remains only a footnote in a promising career.
