Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Bayern Munich: Kevin Trapp and Manuel Neuer compared
Eintracht Frankfurt's Kevin Trapp is up there with Germany's best goalkeepers, but how does he stack up against Bayern Munich counterpart Manuel Neuer, conceivably the greatest ever in his position? bundesliga.com finds out...
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This season
Trapp is a big reason why Frankfurt are part of the top-six equation, heading into their Matchday 14 meeting with unbeaten defending champions Bayern. The Eintracht captain has conceded 14 of his team's 15 goals, with the Eagles boasting the fourth-best defensive record in the division after 13 rounds of fixtures. His shots-to-save ratio currently sits at 74 percent, putting him third behind Lukas Hradecky of league leaders Bayer Leverkusen (77 percent) and Neuer (78 percent) in that department.
Neuer boasts the superior numbers, but he has played in a fraction of the games after being sidelined for almost a year by a leg break. The Bayern skipper has made four top-flight appearances so far in 2023/24, conceding two goals and keeping three clean sheets from nine attempts on his goal. For comparison's sake, Trapp has repelled 39 efforts whilst recording four shutouts in his 12 games. In terms of Keeper Efficiency, he's punching at +4.6, meaning he's pulled off almost five more saves than expected.
Watch: Kevin Trapp - forever Frankfurt
Overall
Trapp's performances between the Frankfurt posts so far this season are no great surprise. He's consistently done the business in his two spells for the 2021/22 UEFA Europa League winners, with a 69.5 percent shots-to-saves ratio, measured over 247 Bundesliga games, plus a further 31 in Nuremburg colours. He's faced 1,370 shots, conceding 418 goals, but only 50 - one fewer than Neuer no less - from outside his 18-yard box. The Germany pair are tied for penalties faced and saved (35 and eight respectively), but Trapp is marginally ahead for crosses stopped (1.3; 1.2) and touches (41; 39) per 90 minutes.
Despite playing in over 200 more games (482 to be precise), Neuer has conceded fewer goals (396) whilst fending off 75 percent of attempts on his net. He's held on to 57 percent of them, compared to Trapp's 46 percent. Neuer's even further ahead in terms of accolades, having won 11 Bundesliga titles - a record for a goalkeeper - and two continental trebles, among others, since joining Bayern from boyhood club Schalke in summer 2011. Neuer also shares the Bundesliga record for most wins (326) with teammate Thomas Müller. Trapp - who has a DFB Cup winner's medal to go with his aforementioned Europa League triumph - has won 102 of his outings.
Watch: Manuel Neuer - the goalkeeper revolutionary
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Germany in safe hands
In truth, no one can compare to Neuer, the goalkeeper revolutionary who has redefined the role and underpinned the most successful era in Bayern's decorated history. Assuming he continues to perform at the highest level without any injury set-backs, the 37-year-old will be quietly confident of regaining Germany's No.1 spot in time for the UEFA 2024 Euros.
That being said, nine-time international Trapp is one of the select few German stoppers capable of stepping into the breach when called on, or even challenging Neuer for top billing. A few trademark heroics against Neuer's Bayern this weekend will only strengthen his cause. Stay with bundesliga.com to find out how that one shakes out!
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