Valdés received a yellow card in the Villareal game, almost in stoppage time, and will not play in the Almeria match due to suspension. It’s not exactly a new situation. In fact, this season, Valdés has missed 14 games: 8 in the Cup, 3 in the League, 2 in the Champions League and the first leg of the Spanish Supercup. Guardiola has three options as goalkeeper: Pinto, Miño, or Oier Olazábal.

Pinto, more minutes than ever

A Valdés injury (the first of his career in the first team) meant that Jose Manuel Pinto has played more games than ever for the club. In the 2007/08 season he played 3 matches; in 2008/09 he played 11; last year he participated in only 4 games, but this season he’s already played 13.

Pinto’s stats are impressive. 13 matches, 10 wins, 2 draws and a single defeat, and only six goals conceded.

Miño or Oier

Pinto was not in the squad for the last game against Shakhtar due to a left ankle sprain, and the injury could make it necessary to play one of the two Barça B goalkeepers: Rubén

Both have already made their debuts in the first team. Miño debuted in the Spanish Super Cup against Sevilla. He had a great start to the game, and could do nothing about the 3 Sevilla goals..
For his part, Oier made his debut under Frank Rijkaard in the Spanish Cup against Alcoiá and also played a league game for Guardiola. With the league in the bag, the coach gave him the goalkeeping position in Mallorca. Barça drew 2-2.