Marcelino’s idea of launching Ruben Blanco for the penalty shootout is surprising…
The gamble attempted by Marcelino before the penalty shootout against Panathinaikos on Tuesday in the second leg of the third preliminary round of the Champions League failed. Ruben Blanco, launched in place of Pau Lopez, did not indeed stop the slightest attempt from the Greek players.
And given the statistics of Ruben Blanco in the exercise, the failure was altogether predictable. The Spanish goalkeeper has not saved any of the last 22 penalties he has faced, the last – and only – stoppage of the former Celta Vigo player dating back to 2016 and a Copa del Rey match in which he had repelled Kevin Gameiro’s attempt. Since then, he had only seen two shooters miss the target.
“I don’t regret the change of goalkeeper before the penalty shootout, it’s a discussion we had with all the staff and that I assume, nevertheless assured Marcelino at a press conference. We were unlucky even on penalties, since we had this shot on goal repelled which still landed in the net. Fate did not want us to qualify today. »
