A "Clean Sheet" with a Bitter Aftertaste: Why Safonov Was Rated Lowest in the Victory Over Liverpool

Paris is celebrating a convincing 2:0 victory over Liverpool in the first leg of the UCL quarterfinals. Goals from Désiré Doué and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia provided PSG with a comfortable cushion before their trip to Anfield. However, for Russian goalkeeper Matvey Safonov, the evening turned out to be bittersweet.

Despite the "clean sheet," leading statistical resources did not value Safonov's contribution highly. Sofascore gave Matvey a 6.6, while Flashscore issued a 6.8, making him the lowest-rated player among PSG’s starting XI. The primary reason appears to be his low involvement in the game and a lack of spectacular saves, as the Parisian defense effectively neutralized the Merseysiders' attack.

The only portal to defend the Russian was Whoscored, where Safonov received a 7.2, outscoring stars like Vitinha, Hakimi, and Marquinhos. Meanwhile, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was unanimously named the hero of the night, with his rating approaching a near-perfect 9.0.

Amul Info Analyst Opinion

The paradox of Safonov’s ratings is a classic trap of raw statistics. In matches of this caliber, if a goalkeeper doesn't make 5+ "big saves," their rating rarely climbs high. However, a clean sheet against Liverpool in a Champions League quarterfinal is, above all, an indicator of reliability and excellent positioning.

For Matvey, the trust of Luis Enrique and the absence of costly errors are far more important right now than digits on a website. If he maintains his composure at Anfield on April 14, no "6.6" rating will stop him from being a hero in Paris. Safonov has proven he is ready for the big stage, even when the statistics seem indifferent.