Joan García goes back to Espanyol: Barça's 'science fiction' keeper saves the day | Sid Lowe

Joan García's stunning performance for Barcelona in the derby against Espanyol was more than just a one-off. The goalkeeper, who had joined his former club in June, had been making waves since his arrival, and on Saturday night, he outdid himself.

The tension was palpable as García faced off against his old team, with Espanyol fans eager to see him fail after months of speculation about his future at the club. However, García remained calm and composed, his body language exuding confidence as he expertly handled every shot that came his way.

It's a testament to García's growth as a player and a person. He has learned from his mistakes, including two meniscus injuries in the past, and has developed into a top-class goalkeeper who can compete with anyone. His calm demeanor on the pitch is a key factor in his success - he never seems to get flustered or rattled.

García's form has been nothing short of spectacular, with 77% of shots stopped so far this season. On Saturday night, he was 100% effective, making seven incredible saves in a game that Barcelona won 2-0. The goals were fantastically set up by Fermin López, but without García, the outcome would have been very different.

Espanyol's coach, Manolo González, praised his goalkeeper after the match, saying that he was "the best kid in the world". For García, it was a vindication of his decision to leave Espanyol and join Barcelona. He said that he had always believed in himself and now, with this performance, it's clear to everyone else.

The reaction from Barcelona fans has been overwhelming, with many taking to social media to praise García's incredible display. The team's coach, Hansi Flick, was also full of praise for his goalkeeper, saying that he gave the team a lot of positive energy and confidence.

It seems that García has finally found his place at Barcelona, and it will be interesting to see how he continues to perform in the coming games. With a buyout clause paid by Barcelona, García is now committed to the club until 2027, and fans are eagerly awaiting his next match.
 
OMG 🤩, this guy Joan García is like a superhero on the pitch! I mean, who else can handle that kind of pressure from their old team? 😅 He's got the skills, he's got the confidence, and now he's got the fans backing him all the way 🙌. 77% of shots stopped so far this season? That's insane! 💥 And 100% effective against Espanyol? Unbelievable! 😲 I'm loving every minute of his growth as a player and a person, it's like he's finally found his place at Barcelona 🏠. The coach's praise is well-deserved, García is the real MVP 💪. Can't wait to see him keep up this form and crush it in the next games ⚽️!
 
he was always gonna do well for barca lol, that guy's got game 🤩. gotta give it to him tho, he's really grown as a player since joining. all those meniscus injuries were like, "ok, you're done" but he came back even stronger 💪. his confidence on the pitch is inspiring, and espnyol fans must be eating their words right now 😂. fermin lopez got robbed of his goal tho, that set up was fire 🔥
 
🤩 Can't believe what I just saw on my screen! García's performance was insane 😱! He's definitely one of the best goalies in the league right now 🌟. It's awesome to see him finally feeling confident in himself after all those injuries 💪. His calmness on the pitch is what makes him so effective, no need to rush or make any mistakes 😊.

I'm loving how Barcelona fans are rallying around him, and it's great to see Hansi Flick giving him the recognition he deserves 🙌. García has definitely earned his spot at the club with that display 💯. Bring on the next match, I want to see more of this incredible goalkeeping skills 👏!
 
omg did u c joan garcia's performance in the derby lol 💥🔥 he was literally unstopable!!! 😂 i mean who else can say they made 100% effective saves lol 🤣 and that coach manolo gonzález is rite he said he was "the best kid in the world" 💖 fermin lopez's goal setting skills are fire tho 🎯🔥 but seriously garcia is a beast now i'm even more hyped for him to play next game can't wait to see what other magic he has up his sleeve 💫
 
Ugh I'm literally freaking out rn! Joan García's performance on Saturday was like a masterclass 🤯! The guy's got skills for days and it's clear he's finally found his footing at Barcelona 😊. I mean, 77% of shots stopped is insane, and to do that against Espanyol fans who were practically begging him to mess up? Girl, bye 👋! García's growth as a player and person is truly inspiring - the dude's overcome so much already and still manages to stay calm under pressure 🙏. And can we talk about Fermin López's assist skills for a sec? That kid's got talent coming out of his ears 💫! Anyway, back to García... I'm low-key obsessed with this guy now 😍. If he keeps playing like this, Barcelona is toast 🔥. Bring it on!
 
🤔 so yeah i agree with the hype around joan garcia but like let's not get ahead of ourselves here. one game doesn't define a player's entire career. he had some lucky breaks out there too, i'm not buying the 100% save rate just yet. plus, barcelona has that ridiculous talent pool to draw from - it's gonna be tough for him to consistently perform at this level without anyone breathing down his neck 🏆
 
I'm not surprised about García's performance 🙌. He's been doing well since joining Barcelona, but this latest game was on another level. His calmness under pressure is a big plus - you can't replicate that in training or practice. I think it's great that he's proving all his doubters wrong and showing everyone what he's capable of. 77% is insane for shots stopped so far this season, that's some serious keeper skills 💪. Now we just have to see if he can keep up the pace throughout the rest of the season...
 
omg i'm literally dying over joan garcia's performance tonight!!! 😍🤩 he was so calm and collected out there it was like watching a completely different player from last season!! 100% effective is no joke! 🙌 his confidence on the pitch is giving me all the feels 💖 fermin lopez deserves major props for setting up those goals tho 👏 can't wait to see what's next for this amazing goalkeeper 🤞
 
Garcia's performance was 🤩 insane! I mean, I was watching the game with my mates and we were all going wild when he made that one save in the first half 🤯. He's really come out of his shell since joining Barcelona and it's great to see him succeeding like this 💪. Some people might say he got lucky, but let's be real, he was incredible 😎. I think he's being unfairly maligned by some fans who are still salty about his departure from Espanyol 🤷‍♂️. His form has been so solid all season and he deserves all the praise he's getting 🙌. Now that he's committed to Barcelona until 2027, I'm expecting big things from him 🎯!
 
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