Uruguayan goalkeeper caught the fifth penalty since arriving in Portugal and « claims » opportunity at Celeste. Galeno undone in the middle of Dragão put the number 12 jersey of the Arouquenses on the podium of the guardians with the most penalties saved in the I Liga over the last decade. Bielsa renovation gives hope.
There’s no going back: in Arouca’s goal lives a specialist in saving penalties. And, if there were any doubts, Ignacio de Arruabarrena tried to dispel them last Sunday. In an almost crowded Estádio do Dragão and with a period of compensation in full swing, the Uruguayan goalkeeper showed nerves of steel again, blocking Galeno’s shot. It was the fifth kick of the 11-meter mark that the number 12 of the Arouquenses defended in the I Liga in 34 games, after having landed in Portugal in the summer of 2022, coming from the Montevideo Wanderers.
Before the brilliant match at FC Porto’s home – which would end up with an open-ball tie -, Arruabarrena had already closed the net in four penalties, all in the previous season. It happened against Rio Ave (twice), Sporting and Vizela. With the most recent intervention, he ascended to the podium of goalkeepers with the most penalties saved in the I Liga over the last decade. The five he adds up put him alongside Bracali, Luiz Júnior, Denis, Cássio and Marafona and above are only Makaridze (six) and Cláudio Ramos (seven).
Meanwhile, « Nacho », as he is known in his native country, is still waiting for an opportunity in the Uruguay national team. The performances at Arouca have not gone unnoticed by Marcelo Bielsa, but the competition is tough – there’s Franco Israel (Sporting) and Sergio Rochet (Internacional), for example. However, the recent renovation promoted by « El Loco » at Celeste is serving to raise hopes.
Double to the left is at the door of return
The « rest » time resulting from the break for national team games brought good news for Daniel Ramos, who should already be able to count on left-backs Mateus Quaresma and Weverson for the game against Famalicão, on the 17th. August, but they have been leaving positive indications, so everything indicates that they are ready. Midfielder Vitinho still has a few weeks of recovery ahead of him.