Noah Atubolu Sets Bundesliga Record with Penalty Save

Emerging Star in Goalkeeping

Noah Atubolu, age 23, is recognized as one of the most promising young goalkeepers in Germany. His recent performance on Saturday, where he stopped a penalty kick from Romano Schmid, has made history in the Bundesliga, making him the first goalkeeper to successfully save five consecutive penalties.

Key Moment in the Match

The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) stepped in during the 57th minute when Jordy Makengo was deemed to have handled the ball inside the penalty area, a conclusion that the referee upheld. Schmid, who had successfully converted two penalties earlier this season, found himself unable to score due to Atubolu’s impressive save.

Coach’s Praise

Freiburg head coach Julian Schuster expressed the significance of Atubolu’s save following the match, stating, “Atu’s penalty save was an incredibly important reason for the win.” Atubolu was appointed as Freiburg’s primary goalkeeper at just 21 years old after Mark Flekken transferred to Brentford in 2023. With the support of both Christian Streich and now Schuster, Atubolu appears to be on the brink of receiving a call-up to the German national team.