Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia praised by Hansi Flick following dazzling display

Barcelona secured a 2-0 win over Espanyol in their first match of 2026, with both goals coming late on through substitutes Dani Olmo and Robert Lewandowski. However, the standout performer throughout the match was Joan Garcia, who was considered the club’s third-choice goalkeeper at the start of the season.

In his first appearance against his former club, Garcia was whistled throughout the game. Despite the hostile reception, he delivered an exceptional display, making six saves, including a remarkable stop from a Pere Milla header. His performance ensured Barcelona kept a clean sheet and remained top of the league.

After the match, manager Hansi Flick praised him: "I have to say thank you to Joan García because he played unbelievable. He's one of the best goalkeepers in the world. He was fantastic [amid the whistles]. I know he appreciates a lot and will never forget what happened here, [Espanyol coach] Manolo [González] gave him the confidence to play".

"He will never forget this, but it's football and he plays now for us. His performances have been unbelievable for the whole season. He played fantastic, with a clean sheet today and he was responsible for that.

"It's always very important [to have a top goalkeeper]. You can see the match today, so you know why it's important. When you see Real Madrid, they also have a fantastic goalkeeper. A lot of big teams have this. I am happy he's here and happy we made this decision to sign him in the summer".

Joan Garcia joined Barcelona last summer in a €25 million ($29m) move from Espanyol. Initially, the 24-year-old was expected to serve as third-choice goalkeeper behind captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Wojciech Szczęsny. However, since the end of 2025, Garcia has become a regular starter and has now kept three consecutive clean sheets.

Following the win over Espanyol, Barcelona will turn their attention to the Supercopa de España, where they face Athletic Bilbao on 8 January. Victory would see them advance to the final on 12 January, where they would meet either Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid.