While the latest league round saw no shifts in the standings – merely reducing the number of matchdays and maintaining the gap between the leaders and second place – it proved far more significant than a mere prelude to the season's inaugural trophy, the Spanish Supercup. The high-stakes encounters involving FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, however, ignited two major debates that resonated across the footballing world.

Joan Garcia delivered a masterful performance in the Catalan Derby, a display pivotal in securing Barcelona's victory. This standout display has had a profound ripple effect, particularly concerning the Spanish national team. Remarkably, despite never having earned a senior call-up for Spain, his performance has prompted calls for him to be the nation's starting goalkeeper at the World Cup.

The Barcelona-born custodian has, in fact, been excelling since last season at Espanyol, where he consistently delivered prodigious performances. While a quiet buzz has always surrounded him, it was dramatically amplified by his show-stopping display at Cornella. His six saves equalled his personal best as a Barca player (matching his tally against Rayo), but it was that extraordinary fingertip save, denying Pere Milla's opener, that truly captivated.

Indeed, Garcia's burgeoning reputation appears to have eclipsed that of David Raya, who, despite performing at an exceptionally high level for months, hasn't garnered the same public clamour to unseat Unai Simon. Even with Arsenal leading both the Champions League and the Premier League, Barca's pervasive media influence often proves superior in shaping public opinion.

Kylian Garcia or Gonzalo Mbappe

Meanwhile, Gonzalo Garcia's perfect hat-trick against Betis has undeniably elevated his standing within the first team squad. His reliability first became apparent when Mbappe fell ill during the Club World Cup, where Gonzalo Garcia emerged as a solid alternative. He not only maintained the scoring standard but also proved that his progression within the senior squad had solidified his role as an occasional, yet impactful, striker. Now, however, many fans are posing a crucial question: what comes next for the promising forward?

This surge in form coincides with a period where Real Madrid could compete for their first trophy without the Frenchman, and with Vinicius currently experiencing a dip in form. Initially, many Real Madrid fans voiced concerns about Mbappe's recovery time, fearing his absence would disrupt their excellent goal-scoring run. However, it has since emerged that Gonzalo Garcia's seven goals for the first team since Mbappe's arrival have all been netted precisely when the Frenchman was unavailable.

Thus, Garcia hasn't merely deputised effectively when Real Madrid's main star has been sidelined; he has, in fact, arguably become a primary protagonist himself. The pressing debate now revolves around defining his role once the former PSG man makes his return. While not a pure '9', Xabi Alonso reportedly considers his deployment as the spearhead non-negotiable, given Gonzalo Garcia's classic striker profile, which suggests he would struggle when deployed out wide.

Gonzalo Garcia ha abierto el debate de si debe tener mas minutos en el Real Madrid, incluso cuando vuelva Mbappe

Gonzalo García

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