Lunin’s long pass helps Diaz fire Real Madrid to Teresa Herrera Trophy

Andriy Lunin said he had not realised how quickly Brahim Diaz could cover the ground after the Real Madrid goalkeeper’s long pass created the only goal in a 1-0 win over Deportivo de La Coruna on Wednesday. The result secured the Teresa Herrera Trophy for Real Madrid at Estadio Abanca-Riazor.

Lunin launched the decisive attack after catching the ball, finding Diaz near the halfway line. The Morocco international carried it forward into the penalty area before finishing to give Real Madrid victory and their 10th Teresa Herrera title.

Speaking about the move, Lunin said: “It happens naturally. When you catch the ball or make a save, you always try to play it quickly. In the end, I didn’t know that Brahim (Diaz) was that fast.”

The match formed part of Real Madrid’s preparations for the new season under Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho. Lunin described the opening weeks of training as demanding but said the squad had embraced the intensity.

“It was very exciting, very intense and very demanding, but we like that a lot, honestly,” he said.

The Ukraine international also praised the atmosphere at the stadium and stressed the value of the fixture as Real Madrid continued their pre-season schedule.

“It was a very good match, with a great atmosphere in the stadium. Everything was beautiful. Most importantly, these matches are useful for us as we prepare for the new season,” said Lunin.

He acknowledged that the second half presented a greater physical challenge, with the players still working through a demanding period of preparation.

“The second half was a little complicated, especially physically, because we are still in pre-season. We are working hard and making a big effort, but this helps us a lot before the league begins,” he added.

Diaz made his second consecutive start for Real Madrid, having also begun the 2-1 win over Hungarian club Ferencvarosi TC. However, he was replaced at the start of the second half against Deportivo de La Coruna, with young player Mario Rivas taking his place.

Despite Diaz’s early departure, his first-half finish proved enough to settle the contest. Lunin’s quick decision to release the ball enabled Diaz to sprint from the centre of the pitch towards the Deportivo penalty area, where he completed the move and delivered the trophy to Real Madrid.

The victory gave Mourinho’s side another positive result during their preparations, while Lunin’s contribution provided the key moment in a match decided by the understanding between the goalkeeper’s distribution and Diaz’s pace.