FCBARCELONA.CAT

08.11.2008 23:58

Valdés chalks up 200 league games

Roger Bogunyà

Víctor Valdés celebrated making his 200th league appearance for FC Barcelona on Saturday with another clean sheet as he helped the team to an impressive victory against Real Valladolid.

Six seasons after making his debut for the Blaugrana first team, Valdés showed why he is the club's number one. On September 1, 2002 the custodian played his first match as Barça drew 2-2 with Atlético de Madrid in Camp Nou.

A good average

In his 200 appearances in la Primera, Valdés has conceded 176 goals, making an average of 0.88 goals-per-game, and that has continued this term as he let in just eight goals in the opening ten matches.

Ever present

Valdés has been the Catalan club's regular keeper since the 2003/04 season when he played 33 matches. Since then he appeared in over 30 games-per-season, although he has only been ever present in 2006/07, when he played in all 38 league encounters.

Zubizarreta’s record

By reaching the 200-game landmark, Valdés is now 101 matches behind Andoni Zubizarreta, who played 301 times for Barça, and is the record holder for league appearances among the club's shotstoppers. Ramallets played 288 times and Sadurni made 247 appearances. Valdés said after the game: "What Zubiarreta did is very difficult. For me he is a role model."

Reflecting on Barça's style of play, Valdés explained that he has always been taught to stay alert because Barça will rarely be under constant pressure. "It is natural for me," he explained. "Since I was young I have been told that and I know there is a great demand on Barcelona's keeper and we I cannot relax."

Quiet game

Match number 200 was a calm one for Valdés as Barça secured a 6-0 win against Valladolid thanks to four goals from Samuel Eto'o. The Blaugrana keeper was only called upon once to when Jonathan Sesma's cross made it in to the area and he had to turn the ball away for a corner.