With European football on pause due to the international break, it’s time to take a look at the goalkeepers who have made the most saves across the continent’s big five leagues this season.
This list features goalkeepers from the English Premier League, Spanish La Liga, Italian Serie A, German Bundesliga and French Ligue 1.
Leeds United’s Illan Meslier has racked up a whopping 109 saves in 30 Premier League appearances this season. That means he is averaging 3.6 saves per game.
It is hardly surprising that Meslier has been so busy, given that Leeds have the worst defensive record in England’s top tier. If it weren’t for Meslier, however, Leeds would find themselves in an even worse position.
Sitting just behind Meslier with 108 saves to his name, Guglielmo Vicario has been a busy man this season. In fact, the Empoli shot-stopper has been the busiest goalkeeper in Serie A.
Stop! 🛑🤚Il rigore di Simeone, la risposta del nostro Guglielmo Vicario 👊👏☝ pic.twitter.com/mvqzUkbI5N— Empoli Fc Official (@EmpoliCalcio) March 21, 2022
Stop! 🛑🤚Il rigore di Simeone, la risposta del nostro Guglielmo Vicario 👊👏☝ pic.twitter.com/mvqzUkbI5N
Vicario and Empoli have conceded 55 league goals this term, meaning they have the second-worst defensive record in the Italian top flight. It is also worth noting that Vicario has kept just five clean sheets.
It’s fair to say that Manchester United fans won’t be pleased to see David De Gea on this list. The Red Devils aren’t supposed to have one of the weakest backlines in the Premier League, but they have struggled this season.
De Gea has made 101 saves in 29 league outings, meaning he is averaging just shy of 3.5 saves per game. On a brighter note, he has kept seven clean sheets in the Premier League.
Jose Sa is enjoying an outstanding debut campaign at Wolves. Not only has he made the third-most saves in the Premier League this term, but he has also kept 11 clean sheets.
Only three shot-stoppers – Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Manchester City), and Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal) – have achieved more Premier League shutouts than Sa this season. That tells you everything you need to know about his ability.
Having played just 26 Bundesliga games, Eintracht Frankfurt's Kevin Trapp is averaging 3.7 saves per game. The 31-year-old has made an impressive 98 saves in Germany’s top tier this term.
It is worth pointing out that Frankfurt boast a better defensive record Bayer Leverkusen, Hoffenheim and Koln, who all sit above them in the table. They have also conceded the same number of goals as Borussia Dortmund.