Since 2020, the Spanish Super Cup has been presented as a golden opportunity midway through the season for four teams to win a title that will lift their spirits for the rest of the campaign, something that Real Madrid or Barcelona usually achieve most of the time.

In fact, after Barcelona thrashed Athletic Club 5-0 in the semi-finals and Real Madrid emerged victorious from the Madrid derby in the same round, the two sides will meet again in the final of the competition for the fourth consecutive year.

During Sunday's El Clasico, which will be the second of the season after 'the Merengues' defeated the Catalans back in October in La Liga, many eyes will be on not only Lamine Yamal or Kylian Mbappe, who may even start despite his recent knee injury, but also on the goalkeepers.

Thibaut Courtois and Joan Garcia are among the best players this season for their respective teams, so achieving glory in the Spanish Super Cup will depend in part on their ability to stop the opposition's attack and concede fewer goals than their rival in goal.

The Spanish goalkeeper has hit the ground running in his debut season with the Catalans, establishing himself as Hansi Flick's clear first-choice keeper ahead of Ter Stegen and Szczesny, which has seen him on the verge of achieving the best clean sheet record of his career ahead of Sunday's showdown.

Garcia has kept four clean sheets in his last four games with Barcelona, not conceding any goals in recent victories over Athletic Club, Espanyol, Villarreal and Osasuna, so if he manages to keep another against Real Madrid on Sunday, the Catalan goalkeeper will have kept his fifth consecutive clean sheet, something he has never achieved before in his career. The Spanish goalkeeper's previous best run of consecutive clean sheets was four, during his time at Espanyol, keeping them against Amorebieta, Cartagena, and Real Sporting between May and June 2024 in the Spanish second tier.

Due to his young age and his incredible performances in his debut season with Barcelona, Joan Garcia has positioned himself as one of the favourites to become the best goalkeeper in the world, a position that for many is held by Thibaut Courtois, who despite not having his best season, continues to be decisive for the 'Merengues', as he proved once again against his former team Atletico Madrid in Thursday's semi-final.

The Belgian goalkeeper was once again key for Xabi Alonso, making five saves to prevent the 'Colchoneros' from turning the result around, thus ensuring that his team held on to the result and sealed their place in Sunday's final at King Abdullah Sport City Stadium in Jeddah.

The 33-year-old goalkeeper is conceding more goals and looks more vulnerable this season than in previous ones, where he seemed to be an unbreakable wall, although this is partly due to the large number of injuries Madrid have suffered in defence this season, which has led to an obvious defensive slump.

Courtois has conceded 22 goals in just 25 appearances so far this season, reflecting that he is not in the best of form. However, Barca's players are well aware of the high level the Belgian can offer in important matches due to his excellent track record.

In fact, Joan Garcia himself, who is younger and in better form, will have to bear in mind that in the opposition goal is a man who has achieved on several occasions what he is about to do for the first time in his career. Courtois has kept six consecutive clean sheets on several occasions throughout his career, both at Atlético Madrid and Chelsea and Real Madrid, most recently in 2024.

It is impossible to predict who will lift the Spanish Super Cup trophy on Sunday, but what is certain is that the performances of both goalkeepers will be crucial in determining determine the winners of a match in which Barca have managed to keep a clean sheet in 22% of games, with a total of 58, while the 'Merengues' have done so in 19% of the 'Clasicos', with a total of 49.

Joan García

Achievements