Marc-Andre ter Stegen, or how to dominate the area
The German has made 15 saves in La Liga and one on one nobody has beaten him
He has only let on one goal from close range, the others were from outside the box
Eibar's Sergi Enrich is the only player in La Liga who can say he has breached Ter Stegen's space. The Barcelona goalkeeper is giant when anybody comes into his area and Griezmann was the last to suffer it. Two great saves by Ter Stegen left the Frenchman frustrated from positions he usually scores in. Griezmann shot well but Ter Stegen pulled off a show of unique reflexes to denhy him.
Barcelona's keeper is very comfortable in his territory. Ter Stegen has always stood out for his reflexes and he's becoming better at dealing with aerial threats too. Some doubts arose in his first season when he had to deal with set pieces. However he now rules with more authority. Speaking fluently in Spanish helps and his coordination with his defenders has improved.
Opponents know know they have to go long to beat him. Gaku (Getafe), Saul (Atletico Madrid) and Cristiano Ronaldo and Marco Asensio (Real Madrid) all have scored from outside the area to beat him with outstanding long shots.
Ter Stegen has made 15 saves in La Liga. He's not among the keepers who have had to intervene the most but he does it with total security. His saves have saved Barcelona from facing much trickier ends to matches this season.
The German currently shares top place in the Zamora Trophy with Pichu Cuellar, who has left in three goals this season in La Liga as well for Leganes.
Only David de Gea has let in less across Europe's top leagues. The Manchester United stopper has shipped just twice.
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