The first gameweek of the 2025/26 LaLiga season only brought positives for Barça. Overall with the 0-3 win to start the title defence, but also on an individual level for Joan Garcia in particular. After starting every preseason game, the new blaugrana keeper was faced with the moment of truth and he passed with flying colours.
Joan Garcia joins a select few
Three points and a clean sheet for a dream start between the sticks for the new blaugrana stopper and almost the best record this century. Since 2000, 17 keepers have made their debut for the blaugranes in LaLiga. Whittling it down to just the winners, only eight remain (Bonano, Dutruel, Pepe Reina, Rüstü, Claudio Bravo, Ter Stegen, Szczęsny and Joan Garcia himself).
Five of the other nine were involved in draws (Víctor Valdés, Jorquera, Rubén Martínez, Masip and Neto), while four lost their first start in LaLiga (Pinto, Oier, Cillessen and Iñaki Peña). However, looking at the eight that won, only Joan Garcia and Claudio Bravo managed to get a clean sheet. Only two from 17, and with the same scoreline – 0-3 for Joan Garcia in Mallorca and 3-0 for Bravo at the Spotify Camp Nou against Elche.
And to boot, only 12 keepers have managed that feat across FC Barcelona’s entire history. Bravo and Joan Garcia, are joined by Ruud Hesp, Zubizarreta, Francisco Abellán, Urruti, Jaume Huguet, Pere Valentí Mora, Miguel Reina, Fernando de Arcilla, Manuel de la Cruz and Manuel Vidal.
Body on the line
It was a somewhat strange game at the Son Moix stadium, as despite the blaugranes having gone ahead first through Raphinha’s early goal, followed by Ferran adding a second, before Morlanes was sent off, the pace of the game dropped. However, Joan Garcia showed his focus and bravery when he went in for a robust challenge with Muriqi, whose high boot into the face of the Catalan led to him also being sent off.
He didn’t have much work to do and was able to enjoy a perfect start, with one save and 100% passing accuracy to begin his blaugrana career with a game he will never forget. The football goes on though, with a demanding fixture in Valencia on Saturday, but Joan Garcia can continue to reflect on a dream debut in the meantime.