Rossi’s stunning penalty record worries Racing, compared with Cambeses | OneFootball

Racing will face the tough challenge of overturning the 1-0 first-leg deficit in the Copa Libertadores semifinals against Flamengo. To do so, they must win by a two-goal difference or, if they win by the minimum, succeed in the penalty shootout, where a very complicated challenge awaits: Agustín Rossi. The former Boca player saved 28 of the 88 penalty shots, including shootouts and those stopped in the 90 minutes.

Statistics also show that Rossi triumphed in six out of ten shootouts, five of them with Xeneize and the other in the quarterfinal return leg against Estudiantes, after winning the first leg 2-1 and losing 1-0 in La Plata.

The numbers back him up: of the 28 shots he saved in his career, 12 were in penalty shootouts. This confirms his status as a specialist in the field, and this fact can serve as a mental factor for the kicker when adjusting the shot, increasing the chances of it going astray.

Moreover, Rossi saved at least one penalty in nine of the ten shootouts he participated in. The only time he couldn't stop a shot was with Boca in the 2021 edition of the Copa Libertadores against Atlético Mineiro in the round of 16, in a series that ended 0-0 and where several Xeneize players left very upset with the refereeing in both legs.

Considering the data, Racing will face one of the most challenging tasks in recent times and will need to rely on the effectiveness of their forwards, kickers, and Facundo Cambeses, should they reach the penalty shootout stage.

Precisely, Cambeses also has a good average, which is why Gustavo Costas decided to replace Gabriel Arias with him at the end of the return leg against Peñarol, which ultimately was not decided from the penalty spot due to Franco Pardo's last-minute header (absent due to injury).

The former Banfield goalkeeper faced 32 penalties and saved nine, while two went wide. At Academia, he saved only one against Central Córdoba. Cambeses' average of 28% saved is slightly lower than Rossi's 33% in this shootout.

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