Arsenal loanee Karl Hein delivered another impressive performance for Real Valladolid in their 3-0 defeat to Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu, earning the praise of Real Madrid’s president.
Hein, who was coming off an excellent debut for Valladolid last week, was one of the standout players in the match despite the tough scoreline.
Hein made his La Liga debut for Valladolid against Espanyol just a week earlier, where he played a crucial role in securing a 1-0 victory and a clean sheet for his team.
The 22-year-old goalkeeper showed his quality immediately, despite having no pre-season involvement with his new club due to his late arrival from Arsenal. However, his quick integration into the team was certainly aided by the significant game time he received during Arsenal’s pre-season tour in the United States.
In that debut match against Espanyol, Hein played the full 90 minutes, making two saves and a high claim to keep Valladolid’s slim lead intact.
Fast forward to the showdown against Real Madrid at the Bernabéu this weekend, and Hein once again demonstrated why Valladolid were eager to bring him in on loan.
Despite conceding three goals, Hein made a series of crucial stops, including two impressive saves to deny Kylian Mbappé, who was making his first competitive home appearance for Madrid following his high-profile move from Paris Saint-Germain.
Hein’s reactions and positioning frustrated Madrid’s star-studded attack for much of the game.
Madrid eventually broke through with a well-placed free-kick from Federico Valverde (50′), followed by late goals from substitutes Brahim Diaz (88′) and Endrick (90 + 6′), sealing the 3-0 victory.
However, Hein’s individual performance was one of the key talking points, as he recorded the highest FotMob rating (7.0) of any Valladolid player despite conceding three.
He made six saves—four of them inside his six-yard box—while also completing 23 out of 36 passes (64% accuracy), showing his ability to contribute to Valladolid’s buildup play.
Despite the difficult outcome, his overall contributions were crucial in limiting what could have been a much heavier defeat for Valladolid, facing 17 shots, nine of which were on target, and 13 of which came from inside the box. Hein was also highly active in managing his area, recording 52 touches, 11 recoveries, and eight throws.
His display even caught the attention of Real Madrid president, Florentino Perez. “He has a good build, a very good goalkeeper,” Perez said after the game.
Valladolid have placed significant trust in Hein, covering his wages in full after he signed a new contract with Arsenal earlier this summer. Hein’s deal was reportedly contingent on securing a quality loan move, and so far, the decision to send him to La Liga looks to be paying off.
As the season progresses, Hein’s performances in Spain will be closely monitored by Arsenal, who see this loan as an essential step in his development. With two strong displays in the first two weeks of the season, the Estonian goalkeeper is proving that he can handle the demands of top-flight football, even when faced with some of the world’s best attackers.
Hein’s future at Arsenal remains promising, but for now, his focus will be on continuing to impress in Spain, helping Valladolid in their quest to maintain their La Liga status.