Barcelona vs Bayern: Is Neuer now the superior German goalkeeper?
Tonight's Champions League tie between Barcelona and Bayern Munich is, without doubt, the game of the round. Two of Europe's heavyweights clash and there are a number of mini-battles across the pitch that is well worth your attention.
The key meeting between the Champions League's highest rated players - Robert Lewandowski (9.31) and Lionel Messi (8.59) - steals the spotlight, but between the sticks, there is a match up that German football fans in particular will be playing close attention to. Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Manuel Neuer are vying to be Germany's number one and while many believe the former should hold the mantle nowadays, the latter has rebuilt his reputation this campaign.
In recent seasons, Neuer's form has dipped and he has come under increased scrutiny over some sub-par performances. Indeed, his approach to goalkeeping routinely falls under the microscope, with the 34-year-old prone to errors that can prove costly. There were even reports that he could secure a move away from Bayern before he put pen to paper on a new two-year deal in Bavaria back in May.
Yet while Bayern dominate in Germany, the Champions League is a step up from domestic duties and tonight's match up with Barcelona in Lisbon will be another test of his capabilities he'll hope to pass with flying colours and prove he is, once again, Germany's best goalkeeper. Statistically speaking, at least in 2019/20 though, Neuer is now above Ter Stegen in the standings, but it is close.
Granted, Neuer (41) has made two fewer league and European appearances than Ter Stegen (43) this season, but even so; Neuer (37) has conceded fewer goals than Ter Stegen (41) across the two competitions in 2019/20. For both to have conceded less than a goal per game in their respective league and the Champions League outings, though, is impressive to say the least, particuarly as both Barcelona and Bayern Munich have developed a statistically calculated WhoScored weakness of 'stopping opponents from creating chances'.
Even so, the German duo are equal to the efforts of their opponents as they both average a commendable 2.4 saves per 90. Given the goals conceded, though, Neuer (71.7%) edges Ter Stegen (68.1%) with the better save success rate. Of course, in the modern game, the goalkeeper is no longer required to just deny opponents, but to become an 11th outfielder too, an art Neuer is the master of.
While it does increase the likelihood of a shotstopper being caught out by opponents, the approach allows for their respective sides to dominate opponents and it has seen Barcelona and Bayern develop a WhoScored style of play of 'possession football'. The pair topped the possession table in LaLiga and the Bundesliga last season, and sit in the top five for possession in the Champions League this season, too.
It's a quality that Neuer again betters 28-year-old Ter Stegen, albeit marginally. The former boasts a higher pass success rate (86.8%) than the latter (85.9%) and their distribution will again be key as the pair face off in this one-off Champions League clash to set up a meeting with either Manchester City or Lyon.
As a sub-plot for Barcelona's quarter-final meeting with Bayern, though, the battle of the two German goalkeepers is well worth focusing on at the Estadio da Luz. And with a WhoScored rating of 6.86 slightly better than Ter Stegen's (6.83), it's Neuer who comes into this tie as the stronger of the two shotstoppers at present as he continues to boost his standing once more.
