Paulo Gazzaniga, a 32-year-old Argentine goalkeeper, wrote an epic chapter in football history on October 7th, 2024, by saving three consecutive penalties in the match against Athletic Bilbao. A feat that left everyone stunned, proving how, in football, even a single player can completely change the course of a game. His saves not only stopped the opposing attackers but also injected new energy into his team, which went on to secure victory with a decisive penalty in the 54th minute of the second half.
The match report
The match between Girona and Athletic Bilbao delivered spectacle and emotions until the very last minute, but the undisputed protagonist was Paulo Gazzaniga. From the very first moments, Athletic put pressure on Girona’s goalkeeper, earning a penalty in the 28th minute of the first half. Alex Berenguer stepped up to take the shot, but Gazzaniga, with an extraordinary reflex, saved it, keeping the score at 0-0.
In the second half, Athletic had another golden opportunity to break the deadlock: in the 13th minute, a penalty was awarded for a handball. This time, Iñaki Williams took the spot kick. Gazzaniga guessed the direction of the shot and saved it, but the referee ordered the penalty to be retaken. At that point, Ander Herrera took on the responsibility of shooting, but once again, Gazzaniga blocked the attempt, proving himself unbeatable.
With Girona’s fans in ecstasy, the team found the decisive goal in the 54th minute of the second half, sealing a victory that will be remembered for years on a night made legendary by the feats of the Argentine goalkeeper.
An analogous feat: De Gea in Serie A
Beyond Gazzaniga’s exceptional performance, we have also witnessed a similar feat in Serie A. The protagonist was David De Gea, former Manchester United goalkeeper now playing for Fiorentina. In a memorable evening at the Stadio Franchi, De Gea saved two consecutive penalties, proving decisive in the victory against Milan.
The first penalty was awarded at the end of the first half when Theo Hernández tried to outsmart the Spaniard with a powerful and angled shot. However, with an incredible reflex, De Gea dived to his left, deflecting the ball into a corner kick. As if that weren’t enough, in the second half he replicated the feat, neutralizing a second penalty, this time taken by Tammy Abraham.
The evening of goalkeepers didn’t end there. Maignan, Milan’s number one, also managed to save a crucial penalty, keeping the Rossoneri’s hopes alive.
The other goalkeepers
This feat by De Gea is not unique. The last to achieve it before him in Serie A was Federico Marchetti, in a 2016 match between Lazio and Carpi. The Biancocelesti goalkeeper saved two consecutive penalties from Jerry Mbakogu, securing a 3-1 victory for Lazio and condemning Carpi to relegation to Serie B.
Among the great protagonists of similar feats is Yann Sommer, Inter’s goalkeeper, who managed to save two penalties in a Champions League match with Borussia Mönchengladbach against Bayer Leverkusen in 2022. Sommer had already reached the same milestone two years earlier, in 2020, saving two penalties from Sergio Ramos in a clash between Switzerland and Spain.
Salvatore Sirigu, former goalkeeper of Torino and Palermo, achieved a similar feat in La Liga during the 2016-17 season while guarding the net for Osasuna against Atletico Madrid, stopping penalties from Ferreira Carrasco and Thomas.
Another memorable performance is that of Andrea Consigli, Atalanta’s goalkeeper, who on September 1, 2012, in a behind-closed-doors match against Cagliari, saved two penalties within 8 minutes, thwarting attempts by Larrivey and Conti.
In football history, we also find episodes like that of Lido Vieri, former goalkeeper of Torino and Inter, who in the 1960s defused two penalties from Lecco’s forward Gotti, gifting a glorious Sunday to the Granata. Diego Lopez, a former Milan player, did the same in a 2009 match between Villarreal and Gijon, neutralizing two penalties and showcasing world-class talent.
Remaining beyond national borders, Panagiotis Tsintotas, goalkeeper of Atromitos in the Greek first division, who came from AEK Athens B (second division), delivered an extraordinary performance by saving two penalties in the same match. At the 45’+1’ and 53’ minutes, Tsintotas blocked penalty kicks from Mraz and Deletic of Volos, contributing decisively to his team’s 1-0 victory in the 2023-2024 season.
In the gallery of such feats, we also find iconic figures like Gigi Buffon, who in a 1997-98 Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund saved two penalties, confirming himself as one of the best of all time. Finally, we cannot forget Jean-François Gillet, who in a Bari-Brescia match saved two penalties from Hubner and Pirlo, and his incredible achievement with Mechelen in 2015 when he saved even three penalties against Anderlecht.
The preparation through studying the opponents
During penalty kicks, the goalkeeper always starts at a disadvantage. The attacker has control over the timing and direction of the shot, while the goalkeeper must rely on reflexes, intuition, and often on preparation done before the match. One of the most effective strategies to increase the chances of success is a thorough study of the opponents, in collaboration with the goalkeeping coach.
Analyzing videos of previous matches allows observation of the penalty takers’ behavior. Although this preparation does not guarantee success, it can reduce uncertainty and put the goalkeeper in a position of advantage compared to the attacker. However, as many situations demonstrate, preparation alone is not sufficient. Instinct, skill, and sometimes a bit of luck are also needed.
The importance of decisive saves in a football match
Saves can represent a true turning point in a football match. Beyond the concrete effect of keeping one’s team in the game, a decisive save has a devastating psychological impact on the opponents, who see a golden opportunity to score slip away.
What makes a decisive save so crucial is its ability to influence the entire dynamics of the match. The morale of the defending team is strengthened, while the opponents may lose confidence. Each save becomes a pivotal moment, capable of changing the momentum of the game and providing an emotional advantage that can lead to victory.
