From Karius to Kinsky: Five infamous Champions League keeper disasters revisited | OneFootball

Antonin Kinsky endured a nightmare Champions League debut on Tuesday night, with the Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper hauled off after only 17 minutes at Atletico Madrid.

The Czech debutant was substituted by Igor Tudor with Spurs 3-0 down in the Spanish capital. Kinsky was replaced by Guglielmo Vicario after making two big mistakes to contribute to the collapse, with the 22-year-old visibly upset as he headed straight down the tunnel.

Kinsky can at least find solace in knowing other goalkeepers have endured similarChampions League misfortunes.

Sven Ulreich: Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich (2018)

Replacing Manuel Neuer is an unenviable task for any goalkeeper, and Bayern back-up Sven Ulreich made a pig's ear of it in 2018.

The German giants metReal Madrid in a semi-final clash of the titans, with the tie finely poised until Ulreich's error. Bayern were a goal down on aggregate, but well in the tie, when Ulreich hopelessly misjudged a back pass from Corentin Tolisso.

The goalkeeper somehow slid over the ball, allowing Karim Benzema to tap into the open goal.

Loris Karius: Real Madrid vs Liverpool (2018)

Real Madrid - and Benzema - benefitted again in that season's final, in perhaps the most memorable goalkeeping disaster in Champions League history.

Loris Karius was badly at fault for two goals as the Spanish side claimed a 3-1 win in Kyiv. First, the German inexplicably threw the ball against Benzema for the opening goal, with the ricochet rolling past the confuddled Karius to break the deadlock.

After Sadio Mane and Gareth Bale swapped goals, Karius's second slip-up handed Real the trophy. He failed to deal with Bale's speculative effort from distance, fumbling the Welshman's straightforward strike into his own goal to endLiverpool's hopes.

Gianluigi Donnarumma: Real Madrid vs PSG (2022)

Even the very best have off days.Gianluigi Donnarumma was a difference-maker as Paris Saint-Germain claimed the Champions League for the first time in 2025, but three years earlier had been to blame for their exit.

PSG led 2-0 on aggregate at the Bernabeu, but collapsed to crash out in the last 16. Donnarumma dithered in possession in the build-up to Madrid's first, with Karim Benzema (him again?) robbing the goalkeeper of the ball before scoring.

That goal swung the momentum back in Madrid's favour, and a deflection deceived Donnarumma for the equaliser. Benzema sealed the comeback with his hat-trick, steering past the poorly positioned Donnarumma again.

Walter Benitez: PSV Eindhoven vs Arsenal (2025)

Rewatching PSV's 7-1 defeat to Arsenal in the 2024-25 Champions League last 16, there's not a genuine howler from Walter Benitez.

Sure, the Argentine could have done better when he parried the fourth into Martin Odegaard's path, was beaten too easily by Leandro Trossard for the fifth, and somehow failed to save Odegaard's effort for the sixth, but none of those mistakes will be replayed for seasons to come.

Benitez's overall underperformance earns him a place on this list. He conceded seven goals while facing an expected goals (xG) tally of 3.60, meaning that a typical goalkeeper would be expected to prevent 3-4 of the goals he allowed.

That widespread underperformance is enough to mark his display as a Champions League disaster.

Antonin Kinsky: Atletico Madrid vs Tottenham (2026)

Regardless of your feelings towards Spurs, it's difficult not to feel for Antonín Kinsky.

Spurs supporters have been calling for his inclusion amid Guglielmo Vicario's error-prone displays, but the youngster had a disaster in Madrid.

Kinsky slipped to concede possession as Spurs fell behind in six minutes, before Antoine Griezmann doubled Atletico's lead.

Just a minute later, the goalkeeper was at fault again, making a mess of his attempted pass to gift the ball to Julian Alvarez. It is the first time in Champions League history that a team has trailed 3-0 inside the opening 15 minutes of a knockout game.

He was substituted straight off in a ruthless decision from Igor Tudor, though replacement Vicario conceded only five minutes later. For Spurs, the eventual 5-2 defeat marked six straight losses, the first time in club history.