Navas makes a false step in battle to be no.1

After lengthy pursuits of Kepa Arrizabalaga and David de Gea, Real Madrid finally succeeded in strengthening between the sticks this summer as they took advantage of Thibaut Courtois' contract situation to lure him to the club from Chelsea.

Keylor Navas' strong performances since taking over the gloves from Iker Casillas did nothing to stop the club's pursuit of a new goalkeeper. However, whilst Navas has previously had competition from Kiko Casilla, the presence of Courtois breathing down his neck promises to be an alltogether different proposition.

It remains to be seen who will be given the nod when the league season gets underway on Sunday, but for the UEFA Super Cup clash against Atletico in midweek it was Navas who was handed the responsibility, with Courtois having barely trained since playing the the third place play-off at the World Cup.

It is fair to say, though, that nobody expected Navas to be beaten after just 49 seconds, nor that he would concede a further three goals after that early setback.

Come the final whistle, the stopped had been beaten by four of the five shots he had faced, managing only to keep out a tame header form Diego Godín.

Only once before in Navas' four years with the club had he conceded four in a game, with that coming when Barcelona thumped 'Los Blancos' 0-4 at the Santiago Bernabeu during the 2015/16 campaign.

The Costa Rica international had conceded three goals in a game seven times for Madrid, against Legia Warsaw and Juventus in the Champions League and Las Palmas, Barcelona (twice), Real Betis and Girona in La Liga.

Since arriving in Spain, only twice had Navas shipped more than three goals in a game, once during his time with Albacete (in a 4-2 defeat to Xerez) and once with Levante as Barcelona hit them for seven.

With Courtois getting fitter by the day, the debate promises to continue to rage on in the weeks and months to come, with the games likely to be shared out between the two, at least for the time being.