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As far as goalkeepers go, the 2020-21 UEFA Champions League campaign was an interesting one. Some of the usual suspects like Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Alisson Becker didn't really make the headlines, as their teams were eliminated before the business end of the tournament.
In stark contrast, a handful of other goalkeepers made a massive impression on the grandest stage, with Chelsea's Edouard Mendy the pick of the bunch. The Senegalese shot-stopper replaced Kepa Arrizabalaga between the sticks and quickly made a massive impression, as he won the UEFA Champions League in his debut season at the club.
A goalkeeper's primary job is to save shots, but in this day and age, they are also expected to be useful with the ball at their feet. Nevertheless, shot-stopping is arguably the overwhelming factor when it comes to judging goalkeepers.
On that note, here are five goalkeepers who saved the most shots in the 2020-21 UEFA Champions League campaign.
#5 Thibaut Courtois | Real Madrid, 26 saves
Thibaut Courtois was one of Real Madrid's most impressive players in the 2020-21 season. The Belgian goalkeeper might have recorded just four clean sheets from 12 UEFA Champions League appearances, but he made a string of outstanding saves in crucial moments for Los Blancos.
The 29-year-old made 26 saves -- including two important ones against Liverpool in the quarterfinals -- and cemented his status as one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
Courtois could do nothing to prevent his former team Chelsea from scoring three goals against him in the semifinals, but he performed admirably for his side in the UEFA Champions League this season.
#4 Agustin Marchesin | FC Porto, 29 saves
Agustín Marchesín enjoyed an impressive debut season in the UEFA Champions League for FC Porto. The Argentine recorded five clean sheets from nine appearances in the competition and conceded just nine goals, as the Portuguese giants were eliminated by Chelsea in the quarterfinals.
He kept a clean sheet against Manchester City in the group stages and produced an assured display between the sticks, as Porto defeated Chelsea in the second leg of the quarterfinals despite losing the tie on aggregate.
At the age of 33, he has firmly established himself as Porto's first-choice goalkeeper under Sergio Conceicao and has finally got the chance to shine for a European club.
He made 29 saves in the competition and played starring roles for his side, as they recorded impressive results against some of the best teams in Europe.
Also Read: Ranking the 10 best players in the Premier League this season (2020-21)
#3 Edouard Mendy | Chelsea, 31 saves
Chelsea's Edouard Mendy enjoyed a stunning first season at Chelsea, as he firmly established himself as the #1 goalkeeper at the club. The Senegalese goalkeeper conceded just two goals in the UEFA Champions League, as the Blues were crowned kings of the continent after beating Manchester City in the final.
Mendy recorded a staggering nine clean sheets in the UCL, at least two more than any other goalkeeper in the competition. Chelsea have finally found a reliable goalkeeper between the sticks, who looks set to stay at Stamford Bridge for the long haul after sealing a surprise switch to the Premier League side from Rennes last summer.
#2 Manuel Neuer | Bayern Munich, 35 saves
Manuel Neuer is one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time and is still going strong at the age of 35, indicating that he's aging like fine wine. The German international played a starring role in Bayern Munich's historic treble-winning season in 2020 and followed it up with another impressive campaign.
He recorded three clean sheets and conceded just eight goals in as many appearances in the 2020-21 UEFA Champions League campaign while also making 35 saves.
Despite entering the twilight years of his career, Neuer has shown no signs of slowing down and looks all set to captain Germany at the European Championships next month.
#1 Keylor Navas | Paris Saint-Germain, 54 saves
Arguably the most underrated goalkeeper of his generation, Keylor Navas made a staggering 54 saves in the UEFA Champions League for Paris Saint-Germain. However, his error against Manchester City cost his side dearly in the semi-finals, indicating that the life of a top-flight goalkeeper is incredibly harsh.
Nonetheless, Navas enjoyed an impressive European campaign for the Parisian giants, as he bailed his team out on several occasions with match-winning saves between the sticks.
He only recorded two clean sheets in 12 appearances, but the Costa Rican made at least 19 saves more than any other goalkeeper in the competition to prove that he is still amongst the best in the business.
Also Read: Ranking the 5 best goalkeepers in the Premier League this season (2020-21)
