Stats Analysis: WhoScored's Top Rated Goalkeepers

With just over a third of the domestic season remaining in most of Europe’s elite leagues, WhoScored have taken time to look back on the most consistent performers of the campaign thus far. In accordance with our rankings, we shine the spotlight on the top five players for each position, highlighting just why they have proven to be such crucial members of their respective teams. First up, then, are the goalkeepers:

1. Marc-André ter Stegen, Borussia MGladbach. WhoScored rating 7.24

While Marco Reus has terrorised back-fours the length and breadth of the Bundesliga, MGladbach’s teenage goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen has been as equally key to his side’s rise to prominence with a series of outstanding displays between the posts.

The nineteen year old set the tone for what was to follow on the opening day of the season, with a WhoScored man of the match display in the shock 1-0 win at Bayern. Since then, Ter Stegen’s heroics have seen MGladbach ship just 12 goals all term - the best defensive record in Germany’s top-flight. 

Playing in every one of his side’s 21 fixtures, he has returned 10 clean sheets, with 5 coming at home and 5 on the road. In total, he has made 65 saves and 70 good claims, which equates to 3.1 saves and 3.3 good claims per appearance.

Ter Stegen’s remarkable consistency has seen him concede more than one goal on just a single occasion, when Leverkusen scored twice back in mid-October. Right now, his form is arguably the most impressive it has been this term, with just a single goal conceded in his last 5 appearances.

With just 5 points separating the top four right now, the race for the title is wide open. Sitting in third, only 3 points behind Dortmund at the top of the table, MGladbach are genuine contenders. Reus may be grabbing the plaudits and the goals up front but ter Stegen - with an average rating of 7.24 per game - is the top-rated keeper in the WhoScored rankings and will be as equally influential as the season heats up.

2. Roberto, Granada. WhoScored rating 7.21

Only three players – Lionel Messi (12), Cristiano Ronaldo (7) and Santi Cazorla (6) – have picked up more WhoScored man of the match awards in La Liga this season than the 5 received by Granada keeper, Roberto.

Despite averaging just 45.1% possession, Granada’s work-rate to regain the ball has been far from impressive; 21.7 tackles and 27.1 interceptions is the sixth worst for both categories in Spain’s top-flight. This means their goalmouth tends to be under attack more often than not, with Roberto constantly overworked between the posts.

Stand-out displays, including 12 saves in a 2-1 win at Sevilla and 10 saves to limit Valencia to a 1-0 win, are indicative of how vital he has been to the strugglers, particularly in light of the fact that Granada have scored just 17 times this season, the lowest of any La Liga side.

Roberto has still managed 5 clean sheets, with 4 coming at home, and has averaged 4.7 saves, in addition to 1.4 good claims per match. Over his 18 appearances, he has conceded 23 goals - an average of 1.2 per game, but injury has forced him out of Granada’s last 4 league fixtures. As a result, they have conceded 8 goals - an average of 2 per game and a clear indication of just how crucial he is to their chances of survival. The WhoScored ratings back this up, too; his average rating of 7.21 is head and shoulders above any other player for the fourth-from-bottom relegation candidates.

3. Toño Ramírez, Santander. WhoScored rating 7.11

With just 9.7 shots and 38.6% possession per game, it’s fair to say that Santander don’t do a lot of attacking. Sitting third bottom in La Liga, their stats for both aforementioned categories are the worst in Spain’s top-flight but, in spite of this, they have reason for optimism in the form of Toño Ramírez.

The 25 year old has been outstanding between the posts so far, with just 26 goals conceded; this affords Santander the fourth-best defensive record in La Liga, with only the top three teams shipping less.

So far, Ramírez has recorded 10 clean sheets in his 21 appearances, with 7 at home (including shut-outs against both Real and Atletico Madrid) and 3 on the road. As the season progresses, his form has continued to improve, with 5 of those clean sheets coming in the last 8 games, compared to 5 in his first 13.

In total, he has made 76 saves and 50 good claims, which translates to 3.6 saves and 2.4 good claims per match. A WhoScored rating of 7.11, boosted by 3 man of the match displays, sums up his importance to Santander. His side may struggle going forward but, providing Ramírez is between the sticks, they’ll always have a decent chance of survival.

4. Gianluca Buffon, Juventus. WhoScored rating 7.11

The veteran has played an instrumental part in Juventus’ unbeaten Serie A campaign thus far. With 21 games played, the Old Lady are the only team in Europe’s top five leagues yet to taste defeat and Buffon’s displays in his 19 appearances have been significant.

No doubt helped by the fact that Juventus average 60.6% possession and concede just 10 shots per game (the best for both categories in Italy’s top-flight), Buffon has conceded only 10 goals. To date, he has recorded 11 clean sheets, with 5 at home and 6 on the road, including shut-outs away to the likes of Udinese and Lazio, where 8 saves brought Buffon his only man of the match award of the season.

So far, he has been beaten more than once on just a single occasion - the thrilling 3-3 draw at Napoli in late November. Buffon has made 49 saves – an average of 2.6 per game - and 14 good claims, which equates to 0.7 per game. A WhoScored average of 7.11 may only be the sixth-best at Juve, but his experience and know-how will be critical if Antonio Conte’s side are to clinch the title for the first time since the 2002-03 season.

5. Michel Vorm, Swansea City. WhoScored rating 7.10

A cut-price summer purchase from FC Utrecht, the Dutchman has proven to be one of the Premier League buys of the season. Vorm’s talents were instantly on display in a 4-0 debut defeat at Man City, with 11 saves helping him to the WhoScored man of the match award.

At home, in particular, his first half of the season was sensational. The Swansea keeper conceded just 2 goals in his first 8 games at the Liberty Stadium, with a couple of penalty saves thrown in for good measure. In total, he has chalked up 9 clean sheets, with 3 on the road, including a shut-out and man of the match performance at Anfield, as he thwarted Liverpool with 5 saves and 5 good claims.

Over his 25 appearances, Vorm has picked up 4 man of the match awards in the Premier League; this is the same number as the likes of David Silva, Sergio Aguero and Emmanuel Adebayor and double the number of any other Swansea player.

In total, he has made 95 saves and 38 good claims - an average of 3.8 and 1.5 respectively and, given that Swansea concede 16 shots per game (the fourth-highest tally in the league) he’s always likely to be busy.

Swansea’s defensive solidity seems to have waned of late - Brendan Rodgers’ side have conceded in 8 of their last 9 games now but, as Vorm’s WhoScored rating of 7.10 has already shown, he can be relied upon regardless of how tough the going may get.