Karius faces Real Madrid again. From his kyiv nightmare to schalke’s promotion hero

Real Madrid remember the 2018 final in Kyiv as the night they lifted their 13th European Cup. Loris Karius remembers it as the moment his career almost fell apart. Eight years later, the German goalkeeper is set to face Madrid again, this time wearing the colours of Schalke 04.

Madrid defeated Liverpool 3–1 to win the Champions League for a third consecutive season. Karim Benzema opened the scoring after Karius made a disastrous mistake while attempting to release the ball. The goalkeeper was also unable to stop Gareth Bale’s long-range effort later in the match. Bale scored twice that evening, including his unforgettable overhead kick.

However, the story of that final cannot be reduced to two goalkeeping errors. Karius collided with Sergio Ramos during the second half and was later diagnosed with a concussion and visual-spatial dysfunction. Doctors did not determine precisely how much the injury affected his mistakes, but concluded that it could have impaired his performance.

For Real Madrid, it was one of the greatest nights in the club’s history. For Karius, it marked the beginning of a painful decline. Liverpool signed Alisson Becker that summer, while the German was sent on loan to Beşiktaş and Union Berlin. A quiet spell at Newcastle United followed, and he later spent time without a club.

His opportunity to rebuild arrived in January 2025, when Schalke signed him. Karius eventually reclaimed a starting position and finally began to be recognised for his saves again, rather than solely for one devastating final.

He made 30 league appearances during the 2025/26 season and kept 13 clean sheets. Schalke conceded a league-low 31 goals, won the 2. Bundesliga title and secured promotion after three years outside the top flight. The club rewarded the goalkeeper by extending his contract until June 2028.

Karius later described promotion with Schalke as one of the greatest moments of his career. It is easy to understand why. Not long before, he had been wondering whether another club would ever trust him. He is now the first-choice goalkeeper of a team preparing for its return to the Bundesliga.

Today’s friendly at the Veltins-Arena therefore carries more meaning than an ordinary pre-season match. Real Madrid will meet a player whose career unravelled during one of the club’s most famous triumphs.

Kyiv will always remain part of Karius’ story. This time, however, he faces Madrid as a man who managed to rebuild his career.