FCBARCELONA.CAT

16.04.2009 12:51

Valdés nears 300 matches

Edgar Fornós

Assuming that Víctor Valdés lines up for the match against Getafe, it will be his 300th competitive match in the Barça colours.

Víctor Valdés was born in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat near Barcelona. Now, 27 years later he is on the verge of chalking up his 300th game for FC Barcelona in Getafe’s Coliseo Alfonso Pérez – baring any last minute obstacles.

Valdés, one of the greats

Some 220 of the 300 matches have been in the Spanish league, more than legendary goalkeepers such as Artola, Urruti and Miguel Reina. And he has conceded an average of 0.87 goals per league match, better than other Barça greats such as Antoni Ramallets (1.24) and Zubizarreta (0.92).

On the road to a European record

On the European front, Víctor Valdés is only five matches away from breaking Andoni Zubizarreta’s record of 69 European matches. Including Champions League, UEFA Cup and the European Super Cup, Valdés has so far played 64 matches.

Seventh season in the First Division

This is Víctor’s seventh season with the FC Barcelona first team – all of it of course in the first division. Many things have happened since his debut on 1st September 2002 in the Camp Nou against Atlético Madrid. At first, the young keeper - just 20 years old - shared the duties with José Manuel Reina but the following season he consolidated his position as Barça’s number one keeper, a role he continues to occupy today.