While the 75,000 supporters and viewers watching in over 200 countries may have been disappointed with the goalless Derby della Madonnina, AC Milan goalkeeper Diego Lopez was one of the few to impress.
“He’s the strongest goalkeeper in Europe,” AC Milan CEO Adriano Galliani told La Gazzetta dello Sport ahead of signing Diego Lopez from Real Madrid last August.
However, the 33-year-old shot-stopper arrived in Italy after an 18-month saga at the Santiago Bernabeu, with politicking behind the scenes for Iker Casillas to regain his spot as No.1 undermining both his position and reputation.
The Spanish media and supporters alike were always divided by the Galician being chosen ahead of Casillas during the reign of Jose Mourinho, while the decision to share the responsibilities with legendary club captain in 2013-14 left them bemused.
His relationship with the Real Madrid hierarchy would finally deteriorate once Keylor Navas arrived from Levante after starring for Costa Rica at the 2014 World Cup, a move that forced him out of the club.
“I’m the best goalkeeper at the club and you know it — but do what you like,” Lopez is reported to have told Madrid directors on the flight back from Madrid’s pre-season tour of the United States last August.
He would later insist that there was no resentment towards his former employers and thanked the club he first joined as an 18-year-old for a second opportunity, after returning from Sevilla in January 2013.
After being allowed to leave on an essentially free transfer, with Real Madrid only receiving performance-related bonuses at the end of the season, Lopez immediately demonstrated his worth with a series of late saves, including a stoppage-time penalty by Antonio Candreva, on his Serie A debut in a 3-1 win against Lazio.
His next performance in the thrilling 5-4 win at Parma may not have been memorable for the right reasons as the goalkeeper strained a hamstring when allowing what looked like a straightforward back pass by Mattia De Sciglio to slip by him and into the goal.
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However, this howler has been superseded by impressive performances in the big games this season, including the first derby meeting with Inter on November 23 and the 0-0 draw at Roma on December 20.
Italy’s leading national newspapers had focused on the importance of Jeremy Menez and Mauro Icardi to their respective sides, ahead of Sunday night’s 162nd Derby della Madonnina.
But in a match often lacking quality, it was Lopez who arguably proved to be his side’s most valuable player after making a number of important interventions to ensure it ended 0-0.
The goalkeeper had been a major doubt after spraining his finger in training on Friday, but showed no signs of injury as he palmed away the first effort of the game by Hernanes after 10 minutes.
Lopez also, admittedly, needed some luck after he tipped a Juan Jesus shot around the post in the last quarter of the match, and from that corner Joel Obi’s shot took a deflection off Rodrigo Palacio and struck him from point-blank range in the face.
Inter coach Roberto Mancini praised the performance of the Rossoneri No.1 after the match, while Lopez himself modestly praised the collective defensive effort of his team.
“Today the whole team did a great job defensively, so it is easier for the goalkeeper,” Lopez told Mediaset Premium after the match.
“Future? I am happy at AC Milan, I still have three more years on my contract and I want the club to be competitive again.”
After managing to secure something of a miraculous point on Sunday night, AC Milan will be hoping Diego Lopez has as much left to give as he claims he does.
