Meret v Milinkovic-Savic: when the understudy shines | OneFootball

Meret and Milinkovic-Savic, two goalkeepers with different characteristics but united by a common destiny: an initial competition that questions the hierarchies.

Meret and Savic, a duel that feels like déjà vu: when the second becomes the first

In recent years, Serie A has revealed a recurring truth: competitions between goalkeepers often end up changing the initial hierarchies. The one who starts as "number two" manages, with solid performances or by taking advantage of decisive episodes, to earn the starting position and write a new story.

It happened at Roma, where Rui Patrício started ahead, but it was Svilar who convinced De Rossi and ended up as the starter. It happened at Monza, with Cragno designated as number one but stopped by an injury, which allowed Di Gregorio to shine and secure the Juventus goal. At Fiorentina, the duel between Gollini and Terracciano was resolved in favor of the latter, more consistent and reliable. Finally, at Lazio, the latest example: the Greek Mandas, initially preferred, was definitively surpassed by Provedel, who with consistency and personality took over the biancocelesti goal.

The common thread is clear: in direct clashes between goalkeepers, almost always the "second" wins the challenge, turning the alternation into a springboard towards the starting position. Often the triggering event of this hierarchical inversion is precisely an injury.

Napoli, a duel that returns

And it is precisely in Naples that today this script seems to repeat itself. Alex Meret and Vanja Milinković-Savić are experiencing an alternation that feels like déjà vu. Because both, before competing for the blue jersey, have already known what it means to start behind in the hierarchies and overturn the situation.

Meret was long the understudy to Ospina: seasons made of rotations, benches, and opportunities to seize on the fly. In the long run, however, his consistency led him to become the stable number one of Napoli, with the 2023 championship as the seal of his affirmation.

Milinković-Savić, for his part, has experienced a similar path. At Torino in the initial seasons, he was not the first choice behind Berisha. However, in the 2021-22 season, Juric decided from the start that he would be the starter, relegating Berisha to reserve. From that moment, the Serbian giant demonstrated reliability between the posts, physicality, good technique, and personality, characteristics that allowed him to establish himself as the starting goalkeeper.

An open competition

Today, Conte finds himself with two goalkeepers with mirrored careers: both former "number twos" capable of surpassing their teammates and earning the trust of the coaches. But this time, one of the two will have to give way.

For Meret, the challenge is to defend what he has achieved in recent years, with the awareness that the recent history of Serie A often rewards those who start as backups. For Milinković-Savić, on the other hand, it is an opportunity to repeat the script that has already seen him as a protagonist: from vice to starter, step by step.

The duel is still ongoing, and only time will tell who will manage to claim the future of the blue goal. One certainty remains: in goalkeeper competitions in Italy, nothing is ever certain.

by Davide Maria Pellegrino

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.