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The UEFA Champions League is often considered the highest stage in club football, beating off competition from its cross-continental rivals. There is often a clamour to compete in the tournament for both money and the prestige it carries.
This year has seen 5 rounds of exciting matches as per usual, and despite there being a gulf in quality between sides, most have shown the spirit of Champions. Goalkeepers are always said to shine in big games and this year has seen some fantastic goalkeeping performances. The pressure on the sides in the tournament and the general starry vibe of Champions Leagues nights is difficult to handle. It takes something special to keep calm against the tide of excitement.
Here, we take a quick look at some of the best goalkeepers of the tournament so far and rank the Top 5 so far this tournament by performance. An honourable mention must be made to Jan Oblak, who has been typically astute in goal.
Jasper Cillessen has also been very good for Valencia. Roman Bürki's true value is noted when he is absent and he continues to impress for Dortmund. However, the others on this list have been phenomenal and edge the others out. This list, of course, is not comprehensive and there may be many changes as the tournament progresses.
5. Ondřej Kolář - Slavia Praha
Aged 25 years, Ondrej Kolář was signed from FC Slovan Liberec for a Czech Goalkeeper record £1 million in 2018. The expensive fee looks very justified as things stand. Kolář made news recently by criticising the Barcelona players who allegedly didn't meet their Praha counterparts after the game.
Praha had reached the Champions League group stage for the first time this decade but they managed to hold all-star Barcelona to 0-0 at Camp Nou. Coming away with a clean sheet wasn't a performance to ignore as the Czech keeper frustrated the hosts.
Praha have been impressive in the defensive front in the tournament despite failing to win a game and the point at Camp Nou was an indication as to how well-drilled a unit they are. Kolář's performances have been consistent throughout the tournament and this was not a one-off special night. In the tournament thus far, he has played 450 mins. In this, he has made a very impressive 23 saves.
While this is also due to the high number of shots faced, Kolář has escaped any criticism for the goals conceded through Praha's games. He is confident in dealing with loose balls and crosses and has claimed 11 balls and not punched even once!
What is more astonishing is a passing accuracy of 76%, perhaps aided by the frequent low block Praha has been forced to play. He managed a yellow card in the tournament but no one can blame him for showing a bit of street-smart time-management. Kolář may or may not move on to bigger clubs but he has had a tournament to remember.
Also check out: Champions League Schedule Champions League Schedule Champions league top scorers
4. Samir Handanovič - Internazionale
A consistent, reliable and fantastic leader, Samir Handanovič has been an Inter ever-present in recent years. The Serie A side's undisputed No 1, Handanovič has stuck by the club through many lulls. With the Milan side looking upwards again, it is only fitting the spotlights begin to shine on him brighter. Among the most underrated goalkeepers on the planet, Handanovič's quality has shone through.
He has been typically solid for Inter between the posts. Though the team have conceded 7 goals during the group stages, he has been decisive and solid. Making a commendable 20 saves during the matches played so far, Handanovič was particularly good in the 2-0 win against Dortmund, claiming his first-ever UEFA Champions League clean sheet.
Despite the 3-2 reverse loss, Handanovič was solid and made a number of important saves as the opposition-dominated. The club captain, he has earned Antonio Conte's praise and has shown a brilliant ability to start-up play and cycle possession, with a startling 90% pass completion rate.
In 450 minutes of European football, he also has 12 claims and 1 punch, emphasising his commanding style of play on the ball. With Inter looking ahead into the tournament, they will be glad to have the Slovenian keeper between their sticks.
Onwards and upwards one might say, but Inter will be hoping to find a long-term replacement considering Handanovič is 35 already. If they can't find one, they could do worse than simply keep their No 1 and hope he does a Buffon!
3. Keylor Navas - Paris Saint-Germain
Keylor Navas would have felt some schadenfreude at Thibaut Courtois' ongoing troubles at Real Madrid, and who can blame him? Admittedly, Courtois hasn't been disastrous but many believe his communication with the backline is poor. Navas, on the other hand, has won over the critics since moving to Paris.
The Costa-Rican was moved on from the Bernabeu after the Courtois' arrival. Navas felt this was harsh. He finished 2017-18 as the UEFA Champions League Goalkeeper of the Tournament and it is in this tournament he has shone once more.
Maybe it is his tenacity from having made his way up the hard way! But he has not disappointed for the French champions. Getting an opportunity to play Real Madrid in his first season at Paris, Navas was all charged up against his former side.
Facing 12 shots on target, Navas kept out 10 and made some sensational decisions against a fiery Real Madrid side. More staggeringly, Navas had kept 4 clean sheets before the away game against the record Champions League winners. His save against Karim Benzema was unbelievable. While Real Madrid might easily move on, PSG might have made one of the smartest moves in their recent history.
The Parisian club have been collectively impressive as a team this year, but Navas' composure and superior reflexes contribute massively to the overall style of his side. For instance, Navas has made 12 claims and 3 punches and has a passing accuracy of 77% and his experience allows Thomas Tuchel's side to play with freedom in the Champions League against the best sides across Europe.
2. Andre Onana (Ajax)
The fact that Ajax had to begin all the way back in the qualifying stages is tragic. With Andre Onana in the goal, they needn't have feared any hangover. They faced a stiff PAOK resistance but last year's semi-finalists made their way to the main draw. Since reaching the main draw, they have been impressive again.
Andre Onana has once more been a central part of the draw. 3-0 wins against Lille and Valencia had him make some crucial stops along the way. In fact, 4 of the 5 he has conceded came in the 4-4 thriller against Chelsea and was affected by 2 red cards for his side. In total, he has made 25 saves, the highest for all keepers in the competition.
Onana is particularly reliable and seldom makes mistakes. He saved a penalty against Valencia away from home and showed his ability to remain calm under pressure. The Cameroonian has been the subject to interest from many clubs in England and Spain. Worryingly for Ajax, Onana has expressed interest in potentially turning out for a Premier League side. If he indeed makes that move, he will prove very hard to replace.
What is remarkable about Onana is that he has already become a household name at 23, rare for a goalkeeper, especially one who did not come through a formal club academy! Ajax have one group stage game left to play against Valencia at home and it would not be surprising to see some knockout heroics from him once again this year.
1. Dominik Livaković - Dinamo Zagreb
Dominik Livaković. Did you think he was the standout Croatian in the tournament? I did not think so. What keeper. At 24 years old, the No 1 for the Croatian champions has been stunning. The most impressive game for the Croatia Internationational was against English Champions Manchester City, where he teamed up with his defence to keep wave after wave of City attacks out for 60 minutes.
He was in the 2018 World Cup runners-up squad but could not displace Daniel Subasic. Livaković was also part of a transfer controversy when Dinamo Zagreb did not let him travel to France on time for a medical. The deal would have seen him join HSC Montpellier for £9.5 million, a deal which does not represent his value post this year's Champions League performances.
Despite conceding 9 goals, Dinamo Zagreb's No 1 has made 24 saves in the main draw of the tournament. He was especially brilliant against Rosenberg in the Qualifying Stage and made 7 saves in the away leg. In total, Livaković has registered 43 saves in both stages.
He is a composed shot-stopper with loads of potential ahead of him at just 24 years old. Livaković has one more game to show his class in the group stages and one would hope he continues to impress. While he did look silly against Shaktar in the 3-3 draw, the goals he conceded can be put down to a crazy game of football.
