Goalkeeping performance is often judged by clean sheets and highlight saves. But underlying data tells a more precise story — how many goals a goalkeeper is expected to concede versus how many he actually allows.
By that measure, Roma’s Mile Svilar has been one of Europe’s most efficient goalkeepers this season.
At just 25 years old, Svilar is entering the early prime years for elite goalkeepers — and his numbers already resemble those of top-tier shot-stoppers across Europe.
That performance has not gone unnoticed. Svilar was voted Serie A Goalkeeper of the Season for 2024/25, further reinforcing what the underlying data already suggests.
While far from the loudest name in world football, Svilar’s statistical profile places him firmly among the continent’s standout performers.
Roma’s Defensive Context
Roma do not operate as an ultra-dominant possession side. They frequently defend in mid-to-low blocks, concede shots from central areas, and allow opposition attacks into the box.
This environment places significant pressure on the goalkeeper.
Svilar is not benefiting from a defensive system that suppresses shot volume to elite levels. Instead, he is repeatedly asked to face high-quality chances — and is consistently outperforming expectation.
Key Data Points
- Save percentage: around 73%
- Prevented goals: around 7.4
- Goals conceded per 90: around 0.6
- Clean sheets: among Serie A leaders
| Goalkeeper | Goals Against | Save % | Prevented Goals |
| Mile Svilar | 13 | 83% | 7 |
| Jan Oblak | 17 | 70% | 2 |
| Mike Maignan | 17 | 78% | 9 |
| Alisson | 22 | 62% | -3 |
| Gianluigi Donnarumma | 17 | 72% | 3 |
Across Europe’s major leagues, goalkeepers operating at this efficiency level are typically considered elite.
What the Data Tells Us
Post-shot expected goals (PSxG) measures how likely a shot is to become a goal after accounting for placement, power, and location.
A positive PSxG-GA means a goalkeeper is preventing more goals than an average keeper would be expected to save.
Svilar’s strong positive value indicates:
- High-level shot-stopping
- Excellent reactions in close-range situations
- Consistency across different match states
Importantly, his PSxG-GA output places him in the same general performance bracket as established elite names such as Alisson, Mike Maignan and Jan Oblak this season.
In simple terms: Roma concede chances that should result in goals — but Svilar is regularly bailing them out.
Strengths
- Fast reflexes in tight spaces
- Strong low-shot coverage
- Good positioning on central shots
- Composure under sustained pressure
Areas for Improvement
- Long distribution accuracy
- Cross claiming in crowded boxes
- Sweeper actions outside the penalty area
These are developmental rather than structural weaknesses.
Market Context
Despite elite-level underlying metrics, Svilar’s market value remains relatively modest compared to goalkeepers producing similar output in England, Germany, or Spain.
This suggests a potential inefficiency in the market.
Clubs searching for high-upside goalkeeping talent without paying premium fees should be monitoring him closely.
Verdict
Mile Svilar is not just having a good season.
The underlying numbers strongly suggest he is performing at a level comparable with Europe’s top goalkeepers — even if the spotlight has not fully arrived yet.
If these numbers hold, Svilar won’t remain one of Europe’s best-kept secrets for long.
Want to place a bet on Roma matches? Check out our list of the best football betting sites in Sweden
Sources: Understat | FBref (Sports Reference) | Transfermarkt | FotMob