What hope do Barcelona have against Buffon?
Monday, April 17, 2017
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As if it wasn't tough enough for Barcelona to overturn a 3-0 deficit against Juventus, they have to do so against Gianluigi Buffon. We break down the goalkeeper's numbers.
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OK, Barcelona lost their round of 16 first leg 4-0 against Paris Saint-Germain, still went through, and now only have to overturn a mere three-goal deficit versus Juventus on Wednesday.
But standing in the way of Barcelona and a return to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals is a goalkeeper with statistics to compare with those of Lionel Messi at the other end of the pitch – Gianluigi Buffon. We look at the numbers of a man who, despite having never won the UEFA Champions League, has a career record that suggests Barcelona need an even bigger miracle than when they beat Paris 6-1 at Camp Nou.
At a glance
- Only once has Buffon suffered a UEFA club loss by the margin Barcelona require even to force extra time
- Buffon has only twice let in four goals in a UEFA club game (both to Bayern), and just once over 90 minutes
- In contrast his first-leg clean sheet against Barcelona was his 61st in 147 UEFA club competition appearances
- Buffon has never lost a UEFA club competition knockout tie with Juventus after winning the first leg
How often has Buffon suffered a UEFA club competition defeat by enough for Barcelona to go through?
In 147 UEFA club competition outings with Parma and Juventus, Buffon has lost only once by a scoreline of the sort Barcelona need to even force extra time: a 3-0 home reverse to Manchester United in the 2002/03 UEFA Champions League second group stage.
How often has Buffon conceded three or more in UEFA club competition?
In his 147 games, Buffon has conceded three or more just eight times ...
Bayern 4-2 Juventus (aet): 2015/16 UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg
Juventus 1-4 Bayern: 2009/10 UEFA Champions League group stage
Juventus 1-3 Barcelona: 2014/15 UEFA Champions League final, Berlin
Werder Bremen 3-2 Juventus: 2005/06 UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg
Juventus 0-3 Manchester United: 2002/03 UEFA Champions League second group stage
Bayer Leverkusen 3-1 Juventus: 2001/02 UEFA Champions League second group stage
Arsenal 3-1 Juventus: 2001/02 UEFA Champions League second group stage
Werder Bremen 3-1 Parma: 1999/2000 UEFA Cup fourth round second leg
How many goals has Buffon conceded in his 147 European games?
4 goals: 2 matches
3 goals: 6 matches
2 goals: 30 matches
1 goal: 48 matches
clean sheet: 61 matches
How often has Buffon let a first-leg lead slip in UEFA club competition?
In Buffon's career he has played in ten second legs where his side have started ahead and only been eliminated once: in the 1999/2000 UEFA Cup fourth round where Parma beat Bremen 1-0 at home but crashed out 3-1 away. Buffon has never lost a UEFA club competition tie with Juventus after winning the first leg.
Buffon career in numbers (competitive club games and all senior international)
Juventus
615 games
480 goals conceded
UEFA Champions League (qualifying included): 102 games, 95 goals conceded
UEFA Europa League: 9 games, 5 goals conceded
Serie A: 448 games, 339 goals conceded
Italian Super Cup: 7 games, 7 goals conceded
Coppa Italia: 12 games, 13 goals conceded
Serie B: 37 games, 21 goals conceded
Parma
220 games
208 goals conceded
UEFA Champions League: 10 games, 8 goals conceded
UEFA Cup: 26 games, 25 goals conceded
Serie A: 169 games, 162 goals conceded
Italian Super Cup: 1 game , 1 goal conceded
Coppa Italia: 14 games, 12 goals conceded
Italy
168 games
113 goals conceded
57 clean sheets (34%)
Total
1,004 games
801 conceded