“This weekend’s Genoa v Milan match in Serie A saw both starting goalkeepers sent off,” writes Derek Robertson. “Has this ever happened in a top European league or international match?” Olivier Giroud: World Cup winner, bicycle kick connoisseur, male model and now … goalkeeper.
The Frenchman had a go between the sticks for Milan, following Mike Maignan’s late red card against Genoa at the weekend, and he did pretty well: keeping a clean sheet by bravely diving at the feet of George Puscas to keep Milan top of Serie A, during a wild injury-time period in which the hosts’ goalkeeper Josep Martínez also saw red for a second yellow.
But two red cards for the two starting goalkeepers is not an isolated incident. It’s not even a unique situation in games featuring sides from Milan.
Back now to 28 March 1992 at San Siro, where Torino’s sweeper-keeper Luca Marchegiani was dismissed for handling outside the box before Inter’s Beniamino Abate was also given his marching orders for a reckless last-man challenge on 70 minutes.