Forgotten former Premier League goalkeeper saves three penalties from three different players in same game
HIS three Premier League spells are difficult to recall.
But his THREE penalty saves from three different players in the same LaLiga match will never be forgotten.
Paulo Gazzaniga was something of a triple flop in the Prem.
But his treble stop for Girona in a 2-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao was a feat any goalkeeper can only dream of.
Incredibly, the home side went on to sneak their win with a 99th-minute SPOT-KICK of their own – straight after Athletic defender Aitor Paredes saw red for two quickfire bookings.
Gazzaniga, 32, won a single cap with Argentina six years ago.
But after launching his career with Gillingham, he failed to break through in five years with Southampton.
His spells at Tottenham from 2017-2021 and Fulham in the following two years largely went the same way.
And after a season on loan with Girona, he moved to Spain permanently in June 2023.
Gazzaniga was solid enough last term – but surely nothing will match his spectacular achievement against Athletic.
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He dived full length low to his left to keep out Alex Berenguer’s sidefooted penalty on 28 minutes.
Yaser Asprilla fired Girona in front but Oihan Sancet pounced from close range to level for Athletic before the break.
Gazzaniga then produced two more spot-kick blocks just before the hour mark.
First he foiled a mediocre effort slotted to his right by Inaki Williams.
And although the penalty had to be retaken as Gazzaniga’s feet were off the line, he promptly conjured an almost identical save from ex-Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera.
So three times in all he guessed correctly to complete a rarely-seen trio of penalty blocks.
Athletic were seething six minutes into added time when VAR ruled Paredes pulled Czech midfielder Ladislav Krejci back inside the box.
Paredes went off for two yellows in a minute, for the foul and dissent.
And in went the penalty from Girona skipper Cristhian Stuani – showing Athletic how to do it as he tucked the ball confidently into the bottom right corner.
But once the THIRTEEN extra minutes had finished it was Gazzaniga, not Stuani, who dominated the plaudits.