Ranking the Top 5 Goalkeepers in Serie A This Season

Gigi number 1? Results may surprise you
Claudio Villa/Getty Images

Italy has long been known for producing some of the finest goalkeepers in the world of soccer. The past decade has generally seen Gianluigi Buffon lead every imaginable goalie ranking, not only in Serie A but internationally. However, the tide has turned this season, and the winner might not be the one shown above!

5. Mattia Perin

Perin - Italy's next hope
Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images

So how can the keeper of a team that has conceded by far the most goals in Serie A (48) be on a list lauding his very position? You can definitely point fingers at Pescara's defense, which has been an absolute abomination this season.

Recently turned 20-year-old phenom Mattia Perin has already drawn comparisons to Gigi Buffon as the next great Italian goalkeeper. Never mind the fact he looks like an extra from an old Beatles video, Perin has jungle cat quickness on the line, and had one of THE greatest goalkeeping performances this season against Fiorentina.

In this game he recorded 15 saves, which was the most out of any keeper in the top five European leagues this season. (via @OptaPaolo)

4. Stefano Sorrentino

Sorrentino barks out orders
Enrico Locci/Getty Images

The 33-year-old former Chievo Verona keeper has been considered one of the most underrated at his position in Italy during his journeyman career, which has seen him play everywhere from Spain to Greece and back to Italy. Stefano Sorrentino has now joined lowly Palermo in the January transfer window, where he looks tighten up a shoddy defense.

3. Samir Handanovic

Handanovic celebrates victory
Dino Panato/Getty Images

Perhaps the best foreign keeper in Italy at the moment, Samir Handanovic was brought to Inter to replace the departing Julio Cesar. Always a reliable goalie during his eight-year stint with Udinese, the Slovenian international has given the nerazzurri reliability between the pipes even though their defensive line has been incredible underwhelming as of late.

2. Gianluigi Buffon

Gigi commands the wall before a free kick
Claudio Villa/Getty Images

Making any top goalie list without Gianluigi Buffon should be considered a punishable form of blasphemy. Despite not being tested nearly as much as some of the other keepers on this list, the Italian international, whom coach Cesare Prandelli labeled untouchable, has rarely let Juventus down. He captained the back line of a team that nearly shattered a historic record by going 49 matches undefeated domestically, and will go down as one of the best ever in his position.

1. Federico Marchetti

Marchetti celebrates another Lazio win
Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images

Lazio keeper Federico Marchetti has been nothing short of world class this season. Never great in his positioning, Federico boasts some of the quickest reflexes in Europe. His performance against Juventus both in the Coppa Italia and Serie A was the deciding factor that allowed the biancocelesti to pick up positive results in both fixtures.

His string of incredible showings has led Italian national team coach Cesare Prandelli to call him up to Italy's friendly against Holland.