5 best goalkeepers from the Champions League 2019-20 group stage

"Being a goalkeeper is like being the guy in the military who makes the bombs - one mistake and everyone gets blown up."

Bournemouth's Polish goalkeeper Artur Boruc may not have had the most eventful of careers in the top flight, but as far as quotes go, this is as accurate as it gets. That being said, there aren't nearly enough goalkeeper quotes.

Goalkeepers just aren't spoken about enough, as the last goalkeeper to have won the Ballon d'Or was Lev Yashin, as far back as 1963.

However, in terms of quality and consistency, goalkeepers seem to lead the way. Veterans like Gianluigi Buffon and Manuel Neuer have been shining examples of shot-stoppers who continue to put in exemplary performances.

This season's UEFA Champions League has seen some brilliant performances in the group stages, and goalkeepers have once again made their impression on the competition. Keepers can single-handedly win matches, and a few results this season have been decided by the men between the sticks.

Before we delve into the most consistent shot-stoppers of the group stages, a few incredible goalkeepers have narrowly missed out on being on this list and credit must be given where it's due.

Honourable mentions - Ederson (Manchester City), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich)

#5 Wojciech Szczesny (Juventus)

Juventus are one of the favourites to win the Champions League this season, and yet, very few people talk about Wojciech Szczesny. The former Arsenal goalkeeper seems to eternally slip under the radar in a side filled with superstars.

Szczesny rarely featured in 'best goal-keeper' lists during his time with the Gunners but has improved by leaps and bounds during his time in Italy. With some exceptional senior defenders by his side every week, the Polish goalkeeper's confidence is at an all-time high.

Szczesny conceded 4 goals in 5 games in the group stages of the competition and made some crucial saves as Juventus kept a clean sheet against Atletico Madrid at home. Facing the likes of Joao Felix and Alvaro Morata is no cakewalk, and the Polish goalie did himself quite a few favours by stepping up to the plate.

Juventus will have it comparatively easy in the knockouts as they face Lyon, but players like Memphis Depay can be match-winners on their day. Juventus will have to be on guard against an upset, and Szczesny will have to be at the top of his game.

Also check out: Champions League Schedule Champions League table Champions league top scorers

#4 Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid)

Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid is best known for its defensive prowess. The Argentine has crafted his squad to ensure that the Spanish side's defensive lines are capable of shutting out the most prodigious and potent of attacking talents.

At the heart of his tenacious defence is Slovenian shot-stopper Jan Oblak. Widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers currently active in world football, Oblak has served as an extremely dependable last line of defence for Simeone's side.

In keeping with their tag of punching above their weight in Europe's premier competition, Atletico held Italian champions Juventus to a 2-2 draw at home. They also narrowly lost the reverse fixture in Italy by a narrow margin, in spite of some exceptional work by Oblak against the likes of Paulo Dybala and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Atleti squares up against reigning champions Liverpool in their Round of 16 fixture. While keeping the front three of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Roberto Firmino goalless for 180 minutes is a monumental task, Oblak is probably one of the only goalkeepers in the world with the ability to accomplish it.

#3 Alex Meret (Napoli)

Arguably the most underrated goalkeeper in the Champions League, Alex Meret has been very impressive in both the Serie A and the European competition this season. The 22-year-old Italian has already established himself as a crucial member in Napoli's setup in only his second season at the club.

In just two seasons, Meret has shown maturity beyond his years and has impeccable command over Napoli's box. The youngster was in excellent form against Liverpool and Genk, particularly when it came to dealing with set-pieces. A commendable save percentage of 78.9 per cent in 6 matches played is a clear indication that Meret is one for the future.

The Italian shot stopper's abilities will serve him well in the long term, but Napoli will be depending on that in February as well when the Italian side faces Barcelona in the round of 16. The young Italian oozes confidence on the pitch, but will that be enough to shut a certain Lionel Messi out? Only time will tell.

#2 Keylor Navas (Paris Saint-Germain)

Thibaut Courtois may have shown significant improvement over the past few months, but there are still many Madridistas who feel that letting Keylor Navas leave the club was nothing short of a blunder. The Costa Rican moved to Paris Saint-Germain for a measly fee of €15 million in September 2019.

The veteran shot-stopper welcomed his former club to Paris a mere 3 weeks later and put in a performance for the ages. Navas played like a man possessed and was impenetrable in goal, using his brilliant reflexes to frustrate his former teammates.

An excellent start to life in France has noticeably buoyed Navas, and consistent performances by the goalkeeper throughout the group stages earned him 4 clean sheets in his 5 starts in the Champions League.

Navas will have his work cut out for him against the likes of Marco Reus when PSG faces Borussia Dortmund in February, but with the Costa Rican in excellent form at the moment, a repeat of his Real Madrid heroics can never be ruled out.

#1 Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona)

Keylor Navas may have had an exceptional group stage campaign, but Barcelona's German shot-stopper edges him to the top spot on this list. The Catalan club's superstars have not been their best selves for quite some time now as a team, and tend to rely heavily on heroics by the generational talents in the squad.

Marc-Andre ter Stegen took the art of goalkeeping into a different dimension against Borussia Dortmund this term. The German, playing in front of his countrymen, engaged in a fascinating battle with Marco Reus and came out on top.

Barcelona endured a difficult night at the Signal Iduna Park, and the German side's direct counter-attacking style split the Catalan side's defence open several times. Reus would have had a hat-trick if it wasn't for his talented compatriot. Ter Stegen ended the match with a sensational penalty save and was Barcelona's best player on the pitch by a considerable distance.

Excellent performances against Inter Milan and Slavia Prague also helped Barcelona top a difficult group. With an impressive save percentage of 85 per cent in 6 matches in the group stages and a knack of bringing his best self to the most challenging of situations, Ter Stegen will be one of Barcelona's most important players going into the round of 16.

Edited by Anthony Akatugba Jr.