Hart: Balotelli best from the spot

Goalkeeper Joe Hart says his Manchester City team-mate Mario Balotelli is ‘one of the best’ penalty takers he has ever faced.

Hart saved Scott Sinclair’s penalty in City’s 1-0 defeat to Swansea, but said he never gets close to saving spot kicks taken by Balotelli in training.

The Italian scored his most recent penalty against Sporting Lisbon in the Europa League on Thursday when City were eliminated on away goals.

“I hate to say it, he’s one of the best I’ve ever faced,” Hart told City’s official website.

“He’s got this mad ability where he doesn’t need to look at the ball. If you don’t move he kicks it in the corner; if you do move he kicks it the other way – it’s almost impossible to stop.”

But the 24-year-old goalkeeper said he fancies his chances against Balotelli if they were ever to meet in a competitive match.

“I need to get inside his head and I reckon if England played Italy, I would be able to stop him,” he said.

Balotelli has scored every penalty he has taken for Manchester City including a high pressure last-minute winner against Tottenham Hotspur.