Villarreal’s Sergio Asenjo pulled off a goalkeeping miracle this weekend when he saved a pair of penalties from Getafe in his side’s fortunate 1-0 victory.
The 28-year-old’s heroics inspired us to find out who are the safest hands from 12 yards currently employed in Europe’s top-five divisions – La Liga, Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1.
Using information on www.transfermarkt.co.uk, we tallied up the totals of failed penalties – both missed and saved – from the beginning of 2015/16 in these competitions. Here are our findings:
LA LIGA
Both Real Sociedad’s Argentine shot-stopper Geronimo Rulli and Real Madrid’s Costa Rica No1 Keylor Navas lead the way with six stops each.
They might not be separated by their totals, but a little deeper analysis clearly shows who La Liga’s attackers should fear the most.
Rulli’s misses come from a combined 18 penalties, giving him a ratio of 33.3 per cent. In contrast, Madrid keeper Navas has seen an incredible two thirds of the spot-kicks fail to find the back of the net – six have missed from nine efforts.
Navas’ achievements have contributed to points earned in this January’s 2-2 at Celta Vigo and November 2016’s 2-1 victory against Sporting Gijon, plus he psyched out France superstar Antoine Griezmann in October 2015’s pulsating 1-1 draw with city rivals Atletico Madrid.
Geronimo Rulli
Club: Real Sociedad
Penalties faced: 18
Penalties missed against him: 6
Miss percentage: 33.3
Keylor Navas
Club: Real Madrid
Penalties faced: 9
Penalties missed against him: 6
Miss percentage: 66.7
Geronimo Rulli (l) of Real Sociedad tries to put off Antoine Griezmann.
PREMIER LEAGUE
One man leads the way in the English top-flight and that is Watford’s long-limbed Brazilian, Heurelho Gomes.
The 37-year-old has seen off competition from the likes of Southampton’s Fraser Forster and Liverpool’s Simon Mignolet to witness five wayward efforts from 16 faced.
His numbers are boosted by a memorable 1-0 win for the Hornets against West Brom on April 16, 2016. In a second half to forget for then Baggies bad boy Saido Berahino, the goal-shy striker saw Gomes guess correctly both times to repel his attempts.
Heurelho Gomes
Club: Watford
Penalties faced: 16
Penalties missed against him: 5
Miss percentage: 31.3
Heurelho Gomes of Watford saves a penalty from Christian Benteke.
BUNDESLIGA
Forget Germany and Bayern Munich No1 Manuel Neuer, there is only one king when it comes to stopping penalties in Germany’s elite division.
Schalke’s Ralf Fahrmann has been forced to face down an intimidating 18 spot-kicks, a respectful seven of these not going in under his watch.
He was kept especially busy during 2016/17 when Schalke finished in mid-table before the energising arrival of the youthful Domenico Tedesco. The penalty count moved into double digits, four of the 10 failing to beat the imposing ex-Germany youth international.
Ralf Fahrmann
Club: Schalke
Penalties faced: 18
Penalties missed against him: 7
Miss percentage: 38.9
Schalke fans don’t need to panic with Ralf Fahrmann in their goal.
SERIE A
In a competitive field, Lazio’s Federico Marchetti is slightly ahead of the pack.
Edging strong competition from AC Milan’s Gianluigi Donnarumma and Sampdoria’s Emiliano Vivano, the Lazio keeper stands tallest with seven failed attempts from 11 faced.
Marchetti has not faced the challenge of stopping a penalty throughout third-placed Lazio’s 2017/18. This is in contrast to last term when the 11-times-capped Italy international saw four wayward attempts out of five against him for a season’s ratio of 80 per cent.
In the prior campaign, the unfortunate Jerry Mbakogu erred twice from 12 yards in the first half as nine-man Lazio won 3-1 against Carpi – who would go on to be relegated.
Federico Marchetti
Club: Lazio
Penalties faced: 11
Penalties missed against him: 7
Miss percentage: 63.6
Lazio goalkeeper Federico Marchetti saves the penalty of Fiorentina’s Josip Ilicic.
LIGUE 1
Benoit Costil’s consistency – at two different clubs – has given him the edge in Ligue 1.
Bastia’s Jean-Louis Leca, Lyon’s Anthony Lopes and Guingamp’s Karl-Johan Johnsson are among those to record big numbers in one season. This is not something Costil can boast – yet his steady scores see him beat all his contemporaries.
Among those to fall victim during this spell is current France and Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette.
Costil got the faintest of touches to deflect his low, sixth-minute attempt onto the post during Lyon’s 1-1 draw at Rennes last season. This was one of two errant penalties from Lacazette, who scored 10 more during his last campaign in Ligue 1.
Benoit Costil
Clubs: Rennes and Bordeaux
Penalties faced: 11
Penalties missed: 6
Miss percentage: 54.5
Benoit Costil – then of Rennes – celebrates after saving Alexandre Lacazette’s attempt for Lyon.
