MILAN – "That save was as good as a goal." How many times have you heard that before? Well, in case you need reminding of just how decisive Nerazzurri keepers can be, we've put together the best five saves of 2016 featuring Samir Handanovic and Juan Pablo Carrizo.
We start with Handanovic's point-blank stop to deny Luca Cigarini in Atalanta v Inter on 16 January. With the scores tied at 1-1, on the hour mark Gaetano Monachello knocked down for his team-mate on the edge of the six-yard box. The midfielder looked certain to score but our big Slovene was off his line in a flash to hurl himself at Cigarini's close-range blast and maintain parity.
Samir was back to his best in April when he pulled off a couple of superb saves in the space of a week that helped Inter secure six points.
The first was an acrobatic effort to palm Allan's 30-yard rocket over the bar as we led 1-0 at home to Napoli, a game we eventually went on to win 2-0.
A week later his intervention proved even more decisive against Udinese. In the fifth minute of injury time Duvan Zapata was handed a gilt-edged chance to snatch a last-gasp equaliser as he brought the ball down just yards out from goal. He aimed for the bottom corner but Handanovic spread himself wide and incredibly saved with his feet. Seconds later Inter broke forward and Eder made it 3-1 with virtually the last kick of the game.
While our No.1 produces the goods on an almost weekly basis, Carrizo has less opportunity to shine - although he has proved time and again that he's a more than reliable backup.
In our Coppa Italia semi-final second leg against Juventus he pulled off two huge saves in quick succession to thwart Alvaro Morata as Inter almost completed the unlikeliest of comebacks – winning the return leg 3-0 only to go out on spot-kicks. First he dived to beat away the Spaniard's powerful finish at full stretch then bounced back up to block Morata's header after Juan Cuadrado had sent the ball back in.
The final display of super-goalkeeping in our highlights reel is Carrizo's penalty save from Borek Dockal against Sparta Prague in the Europa League. The Czech midfielder despaired after striking his spot-kick firm and low into the corner, only to see our Argentine goalie stretch out an arm and turn it behind.
Sit back and enjoy our top five saves of 2016 in the video below!
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