Underdog Keeper Shakes Barça: Bottom-Dweller Tests García in La Liga Showdown

Match-up spotlight

Despite Juan García's luminous early form for Barcelona, quickly becoming one of La Liga's standout keepers this season, the numbers reveal an unlikely rival who is outpacing him statistically. On Sunday, Oviedo's Aron Eskandiel will provide a direct test as Barça's defense buckles under pressure.

Numbers that tell the story

According to the Spanish daily Sport, Eskandiel leads La Liga in saves this campaign, with 97 saves in the first 20 rounds, well ahead of García, who has 36 saves but missed six games and faced fewer shots.

Shot-stopper supremacy

Eskandiel also leads the shots saved metric, denying more than eight clear goals while his team has conceded 31, against an expected total of 39.26.

Meanwhile García sits third, with about 4.72 goals prevented, behind Sergio Herrera in that stat.

The paper notes that while García's save rate is slightly better and he has kept a clean sheet in seven games, compared with five for Eskandiel, the Oviedo keeper has made decisive contributions in a leaky defense and even saved two penalties.

The piece adds that the upcoming clash will be more than Barça vs Oviedo; it is a direct duel between two of La Liga's best keepers this season, one a star at a big club and the other a silent champion for a team fighting relegation.

Bottom line: if you like drama, tune in—because the numbers might rewrite the ending. Eskandiel could soon be signing autographs on the crossbar; García might need a cape for these heroic saves. And if you thought suspense was dead, think again: the net is now writing coda after coda.

Punchline 1: Eskandiel saves so often the net files a complaint for stalking.

Punchline 2: García should start wearing sunscreen—the saves from Eskandiel are scorching the posts.