Donnarumma Is Just Getting By at City

Manchester City abandoned its decade-long goalkeeping policy last summer and signed Gianluigi Donnarumma. The logic behind this choice was for the team to pin the opponent into its own half and for the keeper to build play with the ball at his feet. However, after Rodri tore his anterior cruciate ligament in September 2024, the team became unable to stop its opponents. Shots on target per match rose to 10.56 in the Premier League and 11 in the Champions League.

City won 3-2 against Leipzig. Haaland scored his 13th goal in nine matches against the Bundesliga side. The outfield players, meanwhile, had to cover for the keeper's mistakes. Earlier, Donnarumma let Nicolas Jackson's shot slip through his gloves at Villa Park, and in the PSG match at the Etihad he was helpless against the goals from Desire Doue and Vitinha.

Leipzig's first goal came from Riedle Baku's shot at the near post. Donnarumma was about three metres off his line at that moment. Antonio Nusa's second equaliser was a powerfully struck shot. According to the writer, it was a save the keeper could reasonably have been expected to make.

According to the writer, Donnarumma's movements reflect his 12-year professional career and his 553-match workload, despite him being 27. Yet in his 56 Premier League and Champions League matches, he conceded six fewer goals than the expected goals value of the opponents' shots. The overall picture is of a keeper who is getting by, but City signed him to be the best shot-stopper in the world.