Sport
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Vanja Milinković-Savić defied gravity and beat it
When the Serbian goalkeeper returns to the pitch after spending some time on the bench, he gives his all. Napoli fans know this all too well. Monza midfielder Manga Foe Ondoa knows this all too well.
Napoli goalkeeper Vanja Milinković-Savić (photo: LaPresse)
Goalkeepers are usually athletes who need peace and quiet rather than competition to perform at their best. They are people who prefer a permanent position, the certainty that a mistake will not determine whether or not they take to the pitch. On the other hand, it is a role more exposed to error than a roof is to the rain.
Then there are the exceptions. Vanja Milinković-Savić is one of them. Without a credible rival, the Serbian goalkeeper becomes complacent, sluggish, almost rusty. He needs challenges, constant competition for his place. When he isn’t playing, he recharges his batteries, building up the skill and concentration that he gradually loses as the match progresses. Consequently, when he returns to the pitch after a spell on the bench, he performs at his best. Napoli supporters are well aware of this pattern, as is Monza midfielder Manga Foe Ondoa.
In the 53rd minute of Monza v Napoli, the French player attempted to turn chaos into a goal; he struck the ball powerfully from outside the box, and it gained speed, travelling in a straight and precise line past three players who were blocking the Napoli goalkeeper’s view. The ball was heading for the net. Vanja Milinković-Savić intercepted it with his right hand, dropping from his height of two metres and two in a flash until he touched the ground. He defied gravity and beat it.
The three best saves from matchday eight of Serie A
1. Vanja Milinković-Savić in the 53rd minute of Monza v Napoli 1–4 – 5 points
2. David De Gea in the 41st minute of Fiorentina v Atalanta 2–2 – 3 points
3. Justin Bijlow in the 91st minute of Genoa v Juventus 2–0 – 1 point
The ranking
1. David De Gea (Fiorentina), 13 points
2. Lorenzo Palmisani (Frosinone), 12 points
3. Filip Stanković (Venezia), 11 points
4. Chrīstos Mandas (Lazio), 8 points
5. Mike Maignan (Milan), Vanja Milinković-Savić (Napoli), Guglielmo Vicario (Juventus), 6 points
8. Wladimiro Falcone (Lecce), 5 points
9. Justin Bijlow (Genoa), 4 points
10. Edoardo Corvi (Parma), Josep Martínez (Inter), Alex Meret (Napoli), Maduka Okoye (Udinese), Lucas Perri (Torino), 3 points
15. Elia Caprile (Cagliari), Pierluigi Gollini (Roma) 1 point
2. Lorenzo Palmisani (Frosinone), 12 points
3. Filip Stanković (Venezia), 11 points
4. Chrīstos Mandas (Lazio), 8 points
5. Mike Maignan (Milan), Vanja Milinković-Savić (Napoli), Guglielmo Vicario (Juventus), 6 points
8. Wladimiro Falcone (Lecce), 5 points
9. Justin Bijlow (Genoa), 4 points
10. Edoardo Corvi (Parma), Josep Martínez (Inter), Alex Meret (Napoli), Maduka Okoye (Udinese), Lucas Perri (Torino), 3 points
15. Elia Caprile (Cagliari), Pierluigi Gollini (Roma) 1 point
What you have just read is "Guanti sporchi", a light-hearted football-themed piece about Serie A’s number ones and the save that, in some way, made the football weekend all the better – at least from the perspective of that minority who dress differently from the rest on the pitch. You can find all previous instalments here.
