How Barcelona and Espanyol avoided any hostility towards Joan Garcia through special security measures

Barcelona began 2026 in the easiest way doable, securing a 2-0 win in a heated Catalan derby towards Espanyol.

Joan Garcia, being one of the best performer of the match, was understandably the main target of all consideration on the RCDE Stadium.

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The goalkeeper confronted a barrage of whistles, insults, and banners all through the match. In a pointed show of resentment, followers even threw stuffed rats wearing Blaugrana colors, particularly concentrating on the thirteenth minute to mock his jersey quantity

Regardless of the vitriol, the Sallent native remained unflappable, making essential saves to protect the clear sheet. He now has seven clear sheets in La Liga, only one lower than Thibaut Courtois, regardless of enjoying fewer matches.

Excessive safety protocol for Joan Garcia

Conscious of the particular threats made on social media main as much as the sport, each golf equipment and native authorities handled this as a “high-risk” fixture, as revealed by Diario SPORT.

Joan Garcia produced a stellar show towards his former membership. (Photograph by Judit Cartiel/Getty Photos)

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Espanyol, fearing a possible stadium closure, put in protecting nets behind each targets to forestall objects from hanging gamers, although plastic bottles did rain down after Barça’s second objective.

The safety technique prolonged nicely past the pitch. A large police deployment surrounded the stadium, and the arrival of the group buses was rigorously choreographed.

Whereas Espanyol was greeted by flares and followers, the Barcelona bus was routed by way of a very reverse, secured entrance to make sure no contact with the house ultras.

Moreover, Barcelona’s non-public safety element was on excessive alert. In the course of the warm-ups, guards saved a detailed watch on Garcia to make sure his security earlier than the whistle blew.

Whereas the environment was suffocating, the preventive measures in the end ensured that sanity reigned and no critical bodily incidents occurred.