27.05.2007 13:18
Valdés, one step away from the ´Zamora` trophy
www.fcbarcelona.cat
Following the Getafe match Victor Valdés heads the goalkeeping list of players fighting to win the ´Zamora` trophy 2006/7. The Barça stopper has let in the least amount of goals in the division and moves ahead of Getafe’s Abbondanzieri.
The fact that Valdés is one of the best keepers in the division is shown match after match. The
Hospitalet born star has shown his quality throughout the season with stunning saves in key
matches. The statistics are clear. With only two remaining matches Valdés has let in only 30 goals
in 36 matches, letting in an average of 0,83 goals per match. This just beats Getafe’s
Abbondanzieri who has an average of 0,85, having let in 30 goals in 35 matches.
Not the first trophy
Winning the ´Zamora` trophy would be nothing new for Valdés after having won the title in the
2004/5 season. On that occasion the Catalan star was beaten just 25 times in 35 matches, resulting
in an average of 0,71 per game. This is the second best statistic in the last six seasons, only
bettered by Cañizares in 2003/4 who had a total of 0,68 goals against him per match.
Zubizarreta, the last Barça keeper to claim the title
The Basque ´Dream Team` keeper, Andoni Zubizarreta, was the last Barça player to lift the
trophy when he won it in the 1986/87 season. Following him the Catalan outfit failed to find a
goalkeeper who gave such confidence to the team until Valdés came into his prime.
Sadurní I Ramallets as role models
If Victor Valdés were to claim a second ´Zamora` trophy he would be only one short of
Salvador Sadurní’s record, one of the best keepers in the history of the club. Sadurní won
the title on three occasions (in 1969, 1974 and 1975). While the mythical Antoni Ramallets will
take a lot of beating having won the trophy five times altogether (in 1952, 1956, 1957, 1959 and
1960).
The successor to Pinto
To win the ´Zamora` trophy this season and succeed Celta’s Pinto, who was the winner last
year, Valdés will have to maintain his place at the head of the list of keepers least scored
against. His main rivals this year are; ´Pato` Abbondanzieri, in second place, and then Leo Franco
in third. Further behind are Real Sociedad’s Bravo, Valencia’s Cañizares and
Sevilla’s Palop.