Understandably, much was said about David De Gea’s incredible save on Wednesday night.
Shortly before half-time in Manchester United’s Champions League meeting with Sevilla, Chris Smalling allowed Luis Muriel the freedom of the penalty area. As the Colombian was picked out by a cross on the edge of the visitors’ six yard box, the result seemed an inevitable one.
Not for the first time in recent years, De Gea saved United when all seemed lost. Yes, Muriel’s header might have given him half a chance, but even so, very few goalkeepers would have managed to do what the Spaniard did…
If you haven’t seen the De Gea save, check it out 😳 pic.twitter.com/Zu2Mj0IL4l
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) February 21, 2018
Rightly so, he received plenty of plaudits.
Across the continent, another goalkeeper, playing the night’s other Champions League tie, was also having a memorable performance. And dare we say it, the save that AS Roma’s Allison pulled off in the dying seconds of the Italian club’s tie with Shakhtar Donetsk was equally as good as De Gea’s; possibly even better.
The Brazilian, rumoured to be interesting Liverpool, had already put in quite the performance to keep his side in the tie.
This was good…
ALISSON AGAIN pic.twitter.com/xchcNsZoWM
— Rob (@Razza_7) February 21, 2018
This was better…
LOOK AT ALISSON BECKER pic.twitter.com/UqvH5qoX21
— Para (@Paracelsus) February 21, 2018
But this, deep in stoppage time, was unreal…
Shaktar players were dapping Alisson up after this save loool pic.twitter.com/gt4r1M3XSK
— Para (@Paracelsus) February 21, 2018
Absolutely incredible.
The timing of the save could prove telling, too. Roma only lost 2-1 on the night, and with Cengiz Ãœnder’s away goal, this tie is very much salvageable in the return leg in the Italian capital in a fortnight. Had it been 3-1, their task would have been considerably more difficult.
