Joan Garcia equals Barcelona veteran”s record with heroic display in Catalan derby | OneFootball

Barcelona left the RCDE Stadium with three crucial points, and one of the biggest talking points from the weekend’s Catalan derby was the outstanding performance of Joan Garcia. 

Facing his former club Espanyol in an intensely hostile atmosphere, the goalkeeper delivered a composed and commanding display, keeping a clean sheet when Barcelona needed it most.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Garcia’s performance was not only decisive on the night but also historically significant. 

The report highlights that the Barcelona shot-stopper matched a landmark achievement previously set by Marc-Andre ter Stegen, the man he has effectively replaced under Hansi Flick this season.

What’s the record?

Notably, Garcia kept Espanyol at bay by producing six saves while maintaining a clean sheet, which is already a rare combination in La Liga. 

This exact feat had only been achieved once before, when Ter Stegen produced a similar performance against Real Sociedad on November 4, 2023. 

On that occasion, Barcelona secured a narrow victory thanks to a decisive goal from Ronald Araujo.

Joan Garcia kept a clean sheet against Espanyol. (Photo by Judit Cartiel/Getty Images)

What makes Garcia’s achievement even more remarkable is the context. 

Since Ter Stegen’s display in San Sebastian, no goalkeeper in La Liga had managed to record a clean sheet after making six saves in a single match. 

That record remained untouched until Garcia’s performance in the derby.

The Espanyol match was not an isolated case either. Garcia’s consistency has been growing week by week, and his display earned him a second consecutive MVP award. 

He had already been recognised with the same honour in the final match of the previous year against Villarreal, which strengthened his case further as one of Barcelona’s most reliable performers.

As such, with every commanding outing, Garcia is not only cementing his status at the club level but also pushing himself into the international conversation ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.