Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid Champions League Final Preview 2016: Jan Oblak Holds Edge in Goalie Matchup With Keylor Navas
Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid are facing off in the Champions League final in just a few weeks time, making it the second Madrid derby final in this tournament in three years. It should make for a riveting experience with both teams boasting two of the best sides that world soccer has to offer.
Goaltending will be a major factor in this match with both sides boasting goalies that have played a huge role in getting the teams this far. Jan Oblak is arguably in better form than any other goalie in the world while Keylor Navas were the major differences in the semifinal for Real Madrid.
Which side has the edge in the match?
Jan Oblak
The Slovenian goalie has been making history all year along, putting up 23 clean sheets in La Liga and providing the major difference in the Champions League semifinal against Bayern Munich. He made a huge save on the penalty shot in the first half that ultimately proved to be the difference and added a few huge saves as the German contingent dominated the game from the outset.
Oblak took over the starting job this season and has been absolutely dominant thanks to his tremendous reading and position of the game unfolding in front of him. He is a very well-rounded goalie overall that succeeds in all aspects of the game.
Keylor Navas
The Costa Rican keeper has had a crazy road to this point for Real Madrid. Last season he was the backup, barely getting anytime in goal for Los Blancos and succeeding whenever called upon. But this season he has been tremendous for the club and even rode a shutout streak in the Champions League all the way to the quarterfinals against Wolfsburg. That 2-0 defeat remains the only time that Navas has conceded a single goal in this tournament throughout his career.
Navas is not a great all-around keeper, but he is arguably the best shot stopper in the game, relying on tremendous on reflexes. Like Oblak he is tremendous on penalties and has stopped a few big ones for Los Blancos in 2015-16.
Of course Navas' record against Atleti has not been great, mainly because he is not a goalkeeper that dominates in the air, one of Atletico's best offensive attributes. That said, Atletico only managed one goal in 2014's final and it came off a goaltending effort by the now-departed Iker Casillas. Navas has yet to make a single mistake anywhere close to that poor all of this season and is unlikely to do so in such a big moment.
Advantage
Oblak. The Slovenian keeper is nigh unstoppable at this point and the team in front of him relies heavily on his ability. Don't expect that to suddenly change in what should be a goaltender showcase overall.