Ryan made nine saves and prevented 2.08 goals in a 0-0 draw, while Australians abroad delivered a mixed weekend across Europe and the UAE.
Mat Ryan produced the weekend’s standout goalkeeping performance in LaLiga, making nine saves to earn Sofascore’s perfect 10 rating as Levante drew 0-0 with Celta Vigo at Balaídos. Sofascore says it awards that mark once in every 3,000 performances across its platform, putting the Australian’s display in rare company.
The scale of the performance is clear in the match numbers: Celta had 23 shots, 58.7 per cent possession and six corners, while Levante managed six shots and one corner. Celta’s expected goals total was 3.04; Sofascore credited Ryan with 2.08 goals prevented. Seven of his stops came from attempts inside the penalty area.
Pablo Durán was repeatedly denied. Ryan stopped him in the third minute, saved a low header to his left in the 59th, then made two saves against him in the 79th and another in the 90th. Iago Aspas and Javi Galán also failed to beat the Levante captain. Celta struck the post in the fourth minute, and a Durán goal was disallowed for offside after a VAR review midway through the first half.
The result leaves Levante 17th with 11 points from 12 matches, one point above 18th-placed Elche. Ryan’s form also sharpens the focus on his absence from the current Socceroos camp in Qatar. The 34-year-old has missed two international windows, including the Brazil double-header. It remains unclear whether he was left out or chose not to travel. Patrick Beach, Joe Gauci and Tom Glover are the goalkeepers in the squad; Jacob Chapman and Paul Izzo, who were part of the earlier group, have not been selected this time.
Beach is set to continue in goal for Australia despite losing the starting role at Ligue 1 side Troyes. Before the Asian Cup was postponed, former Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer said on his Football360 podcast that Ryan could return to the squad. “Now, there’s a genuine competition again,” Schwarzer said. He added that Beach’s club situation could strengthen the case for Ryan’s recall, particularly if Beach doesn’t regain his place before the next international break.
Sam Klein makes a late push before St Pauli’s defeat
Sam Klein came close to an equaliser in his final club appearance before joining his first senior Socceroos camp, but St Pauli went on to lose 4-1 away to Magdeburg. Introduced at half-time for fellow Australian Connor Metcalfe, Klein cut inside from the left and shot with his right foot in the 80th minute. Anselmo García MacNulty deflected the effort just wide.
St Pauli’s afternoon unravelled late. Louis Oppie was sent off, and Magdeburg scored twice more to complete the victory.
Hrustic sparks Al Nasr’s comeback
Ajdin Hrustic scored Al Nasr’s equaliser in a 4-1 win over Dubai United at Al Maktoum Stadium. United took the lead in the eighth minute, before Hrustic finished a Mehdi Ghayedi pass in the 39th. Al Nasr added two goals in the opening 10 minutes of the second half, and Ramon Mierez completed the scoring in stoppage time. Hrustic came off in the 91st minute. Al Nasr moved up to seventh with 11 points.
Stensness starts as Viking remain top
Gianni Stensness played the full match as Viking beat KFUM Oslo 5-1 at Lyse Arena. Peter Buch Christiansen scored three, with Henrik Rørvik Bjørdal and substitute Niklas Kemp Fuglestad also on target. Nicholas D’Agostino missed the match through injury.
Viking remain first in Norway’s Eliteserien on 62 points, level with Bodø/Glimt but ahead on goal difference, 42 to 40, with four rounds remaining. Stensness has been named in Australia’s November squad.
Randers concede five after the break
Paul Izzo played all 90 minutes as Randers lost 6-1 at home to FC Nordsjælland in the Danish Superliga. After trailing 1-0 at half-time, Randers equalised through Mike Themsen five minutes into the second half. Nordsjælland then scored five unanswered goals between the 53rd and 80th minutes, with Alexander Lind and Ibrahim Adel each netting twice.
The visitors recorded six shots on target to Randers’ two. Randers sit 11th in the table.
Dukuly helps Celje climb to third
Yaya Dukuly started and played 64 minutes in Celje’s 2-1 away win over Kalcer Radomlje. He tested goalkeeper Samo Pridgar in the 50th minute, but his shot was saved at the near post. Celje had gone 2-0 ahead by the half-hour; Radomlje pulled one back from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time.
The win is Celje’s second straight in the league and lifts the club to third, six points behind leaders Koper with a game in hand. Ryan’s exceptional afternoon remains the weekend’s clearest signal of the depth of Australian talent in Europe—and a reminder that his national-team place is still a live question.
Discussion
Sign in to join the discussion.