Red Bull Salzburg were once again crowned champions of the Austrian Bundesliga. They dominated all season, losing only two games. In 32 games, they managed to score 110 goals and concede just 34. Their incredible defence was down to not just their defence, but their goalkeeper as well. Cican Stankovic has had to wait for the number one shirt at Salzburg, but he is certainly impressing now.
This tactical analysis will focus on the Austrian and how he has been instrumental in his team’s success this season. We will focus on the fundamentals that are expected of a modern-day goalkeeper, and see how he compares to other keepers outside the top five leagues.
Shot-stopping
Because Stanković plays for one of the best defences in the Austrian Bundesliga, he doesn’t face many shots. In fact, he only faces 2.97 shots per 90, conceding 0.98 goals. However, when the Austrian is called upon, he’s often equal to the shots on his goal.
Stanković has a fairly average save percentage of 67.06%. Because he faces a limited amount of shots, whenever he fails to save a shot, it has a bigger impact on his save percentage. He is certainly one of the best shot-stoppers in the league.
His shot-stopping is excellent no matter where the shot is taken from. In the example above, the shot is taken from a fair distance. Although Stanković is only 6’1”, fairly short for a goalkeeper, his footwork allows him to save difficult shots. Here, he is able to save a powerful strike that is destined for the bottom corner because his footwork allows him to get down quickly.
His footwork helps him save shots from distance whilst his reflexes helps him stop shots closer to his goal.
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