{"id":160208,"date":"2025-03-12T11:39:03","date_gmt":"2025-03-12T11:39:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tahrir2day.com\/news\/2025\/03\/12\/why-is-donnarumma-so-good-at-saving-penalties\/"},"modified":"2025-03-12T11:39:03","modified_gmt":"2025-03-12T11:39:03","slug":"why-is-donnarumma-so-good-at-saving-penalties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tahrir2day.com\/news\/2025\/03\/12\/why-is-donnarumma-so-good-at-saving-penalties\/","title":{"rendered":"Why is Donnarumma so good at saving penalties?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

It is the life of a goalkeeper. <\/b><\/p>\n

One day you are the villain. The next, you are the hero.<\/p>\n

Gianluigi Donnarumma was blamed by some for Paris St-Germain’s defeat by Liverpool last week, allowing Harvey Elliot’s 88th-minute effort – the Reds’ only shot on target – to slip in. <\/p>\n

At the other end, the Italian’s opposite number Alisson produced the “performance of his career” as he single-handedly kept the French side at bay in Paris. <\/p>\n

On Tuesday night, the tables turned.<\/p>\n

Italy’s Donnarumma was the hero, saving two of Liverpool’s three penalties in a shootout to send his side through to the Champions League quarter-finals. <\/p>\n

“The first game belonged to Alisson, the second game belonged to Donnarumma,” said PSG boss Luis Enrique.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Donnarumma has now won six of the seven penalty shootouts he has taken part in for club and country.<\/p>\n

Since making his debut aged 16 for boyhood club AC Milan, Donnarumma has faced 60 penalties across his club and international career. <\/p>\n

He has saved 14 of those, giving him a save percentage of 23.3%.<\/p>\n

Remarkably, the Italian’s penalty shootout record is identical.<\/p>\n

Donnarumma has saved 10 of the 43 spot-kicks he has faced during shootouts – a save percentage of 23.3%. <\/p>\n

Donnarumma, who was player of the tournament after Italy’s 2021 Euros triumph, saved penalties from Bukayo Saka and Jadon Sancho in the final against England at Wembley. <\/p>\n

His full record for penalties faced during matches and in shootouts is 24 saves from 103 penalties. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Donnarumma missed Enrique’s pre-shootout team talk as he headed down the tunnel, choosing instead to retrieve some pre-prepared notes from the dressing room about Liverpool’s spot-kicks.<\/p>\n

“I had prepared something with my trainer, it was right to take something back to try to save some penalties,” said Donnarumma. <\/p>\n

“I see a lot of criticism from journalists without knowing what the goalkeeper’s job is.<\/p>\n

“In the first leg we conceded a shot and a goal, it seemed like it was my fault but I always think about smiling, giving my best and working for the team.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

At 6ft 5in, Donnarumma cuts an imposing figure.<\/p>\n

But unlike many of his peers, he has a slightly different tactic for penalties.<\/p>\n

Many goalkeepers use the moments before a penalty is taken to attempt to ‘get into the head’ of the taker – slowing down the taking of the penalty, retrieving the ball for the taker or moving along their line. <\/p>\n

Donnarumma is different.<\/p>\n

Laidback and calm, the Italian barely moves until the player puts the ball on the spot. <\/p>\n

Just as they are readying their run-up, he expands his arms to make the goal look as small as possible. <\/p>\n

“The idea behind that is to stand as slim as you can to start with,” former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock told Football Daily.<\/p>\n

“The ball goes on the spot, now you’re putting doubt in their mind, you spread yourself, make yourself big and awkward, making the goal look smaller. <\/p>\n

“You don’t do that when they’re walking forward. You do it when the ball is on the spot to put doubt in their mind in the last seconds.” <\/p>\n

Donnarumma remained level-headed after both of his penalty saves, barely celebrating as he prepared for the next. <\/p>\n

“I’m sat here watching Donnarumma and thinking, ‘Wow, look at the size of him!'” Warnock added.<\/p>\n

“How imposing is he in that goal? If he dives the right way he stands a great chance of getting it. The guy’s a monster.” <\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It is the life of a goalkeeper. One day you are the villain. The next, you are the hero. Gianluigi Donnarumma was blamed by some for Paris St-Germain’s defeat by Liverpool last week, allowing Harvey Elliot’s 88th-minute effort – the Reds’ only shot on target – to slip in. 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