David de Gea Ends Penalty Drought at Old Trafford After Almost a Decade, While Aleksandar Mitrovic Sets Unfavorable Premier League Record

In a thrilling clash between Manchester United and Fulham at Old Trafford on Sunday, David de Gea showcased his goalkeeping prowess by denying Aleksandar Mitrovic from the penalty spot. 

This marked the first time in almost a decade that De Gea saved a penalty at Old Trafford in the Premier League.

The match took an intense turn as Fulham held a 1-0 lead and were awarded a penalty when Casemiro fouled Tom Cairney. 

Stepping up to take the spot-kick, Mitrovic aimed to extend Fulham's advantage but was thwarted by De Gea's diving save to the left, denying the forward's effort. Notably, this was De Gea's first penalty save across all competitions since denying Ismaila Sarr of Watford in 2021. 

Adding insult to injury for Fulham, Jadon Sancho later equalized for the hosts.

Mitrovic's missed penalty added another unwelcome record to his name. 

The 28-year-old striker has now missed four penalties this season, making him the player with the most penalty misses in a single Premier League campaign. Mitrovic has faced a difficult time against Manchester United throughout the season, having been sent off in their previous encounter in the FA Cup and subsequently banned for eight games due to an incident involving referee Chris Kavanagh.

Reflecting on De Gea's penalty save, it's worth noting that his last such feat at Old Trafford occurred back in 2014 when he denied Leighton Baines, helping United secure a 2-1 victory against Everton.

While De Gea's shot-stopping abilities have been impressive, his future at Manchester United remains uncertain as he approaches the end of his contract. 

While it's expected that he will sign an extension, it remains to be seen if he will retain the role of the first-choice goalkeeper next season. 

Despite some errors during the current campaign, De Gea managed to secure the Premier League's Golden Glove award after keeping an impressive 16 clean sheets.