Joan Garcia responds to his personal hell by playing like an angel

Cornellà - El PratThe last time Joan Garcia set foot in the RCDE Stadium, he kissed the badge after Espanyol secured their place in La Liga, largely thanks to his saves. On his return, the current Barça goalkeeper experienced a personal nightmare, which he quelled with a stellar performance. Joan wasn't afraid of the match, but it had certainly caused him anxiety. According to ARA, before the game, the goalkeeper had told some of his current and former Espanyol teammates that he was anxious about playing the derby at the RCDE Stadium. He was eager to get through the night and put it behind him.

When Barça arrived at the Espanyol stadium, Joan didn't want to go out onto the pitch and carry out the initial inspection of the opposing stadium, unlike some of his teammates. The first loud chorus of boos came at 8:13 p.m., when Juan, bursting onto the pitch like a rocket, headed towards the goal where he was warming up. As the stands filled up, the shouts of "fucking Barça" began, intensifying once the match started. Throughout the game, Joan stoically endured the whistles—and insults—every time the ball came to his feet. Shortly after the 12th minute, about a hundred posters with a mouse drawn on them appeared in the Canito Stand. Just a few minutes earlier, security had removed a fan for assaulting another, right behind the Barça bench, an isolated incident that had little to do with the return of the goalkeeper from Sallent.

Joan Garcia quickly proved that stage fright wouldn't get the better of him, making a superb save in his first action: a one-on-one with Roberto. Other Barcelona players, like Balde, also experienced the hostile atmosphere, enduring harsh insults as she went to collect a ball near the corner flag. Balde herself was the first to congratulate Joan after a spectacular foul on Pere Milla in the 39th minute.

Joan's ordeal continued in the second half, as he was assigned to defend the goal where Espanyol's most radical supporters were located. Posters calling him a rat and the insults returned. His best response to the barrage of insults was two phenomenal saves, once again denying Roberto a goal and keeping the score at 0-0.

How the home fans would receive Joan Garcia was one of Espanyol's main security concerns. The club had already been warned that its stadium could be sanctioned for throwing objects onto the pitch, and in case of repeated offenses, it could be partially or completely closed. Therefore, the club tightened security measures and, with the approval of the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police), installed black protective netting behind the goals, less than 10 meters high. Access to Cornellà-El Prat was also prohibited with any object that could be thrown onto the field, including stuffed rats – as had been suggested on social media. Large bags, backpacks, and motorcycle helmets were also banned. Searches were much more thorough than usual.

As it was a high-risk match –even so, La Liga scheduled it for 9 pm, encouraging greater alcohol consumption beforehand and ignoring Espanyol's request to play it in the early afternoon–, entry with Barça insignia was also prohibited, as was the case with tickets for visiting fans. Inside the stadium, the security detail doubled the number of guards and assistants.

Sanctions for the "Puta Barça" chants

According to information obtained by ARA, between fines – each "Puta Barça" chant recorded in the official match report carries a €6,000 fine – and damages, the 2023 pitch invasion derby cost Espanyol around €60,000. The evenness of the match on the field made for a hostile derby, especially for Joan Garcia, but it had proceeded without major incidents until, at 0-2, several fans threw bottles in the corner where the Barcelona players had gathered to celebrate the goal that sealed the victory. The match had to be stopped briefly while Hansi Flick instructed his players to return to their positions. The manager embraced Joan immediately after the final whistle.