Barcelona left the Catalonia derby with a win and, more importantly, a clear message from Hansi Flick: Joan Garcia is the real deal. After a tense night against Espanyol, the head coach did not hesitate. He put his goalkeeper at the center of the story, praising a display that steadied Barcelona and set the tone for the weeks ahead.

Flick’s verdict was blunt and big. "I’m very happy with Juan Garcia; he is one of the best goalkeepers in the world," he said. It was the headline line from a coach who knows elite shot-stoppers. And it matched the feeling around the team: their new No. 1 isn’t just in form; he’s shaping results.

Hansi Flick on Joan Garcia: World-Class Words After a Derby Win

Flick unpacked the night from two angles: hard fight, then high quality. "Espanyol played a great match; it was a true derby with a special atmosphere. Perhaps we didn’t deserve the result, but the quality we showed after the substitutions was very important," he said. That balance matters. It praises the opponent and also credits Barcelona for flipping the script late.

Central to his explanation was the goalkeeper. "Juan was amazing. I believe he will never forget what he experienced here, where Manuel gave him the confidence to play. Now he is with us and has delivered an outstanding performance, which is one of the reasons for the win." Flick then added the practical note any coach loves to say after a tight game: "I am happy with the three points. Certainly, there are things that need to be adjusted, but I am satisfied with winning the three points."

Whether spelled Joan (his name) or "Juan" in quotes, the message is the same: Barcelona’s goalkeeper answered in big moments and kept his team alive long enough for the bench to swing it.

"If Joan keeps this up, Barca don’t need a miracle — they have a wall."

Barcelona vs Espanyol: Tough Early, Smarter Late

The derby had the nerves and the noise you expect. Flick admitted the first 80 minutes were more grind than shine. Espanyol pressed, broke lines, and created moments that forced Barcelona deep. The coach’s changes gave his side fresh legs and fresh ideas, and they paid off down the stretch. There was also help from defenders in crisis moments, including saves by Eric Garcia when the box turned chaotic.

That late rise matters for the bigger picture. It shows this Barcelona can win on days when rhythm is missing. It also hints at a group that believes in the plan and listens when the coach tweaks it mid-game.

From Espanyol Hero to Barcelona’s Backbone

Joan Garcia’s path into this derby made the story even richer. He joined Barcelona in the summer of 2025 after excelling at Espanyol. In his final season there, he made the most saves in La Liga (146) and, by advanced metrics, prevented the most goals. Those numbers shout two things: volume and value. He saw a lot of shots, and he turned away a lot that most keepers wouldn’t.

That history added an edge to this derby. Returning to face his former club, in a game that always carries a special charge, Garcia showed poise. He did the basics well and the hard stuff even better. It was the kind of night that wins trust in a new locker room and deepens it among fans.

"Great win, but why is our keeper that busy? Fix the midfield shape."

Jules Koundé Sets the Standard: Protect the Keeper

Jules Koundé put the team’s challenge in simple terms: they must make life easier for their goalkeeper. "There are a lot of things that need to be improved because we don’t want to see Joan García having to work too much," he said. It was half compliment, half warning. Garcia is excellent, but Barcelona don’t want to rely on heroics every week.

That theme isn’t new. Flick has said similar things in other games, including after a win over Villarreal earlier in the season: "He saved us many times today. He’s an important player for us. But we’re a team. We all defend with and without the ball." The message is clear. The No. 1 is elite, but the first job is collective control.

Flick’s Changes and the Mental Edge

Flick highlighted how his substitutions lifted the performance. That choice underlines two strengths of this Barcelona right now: depth and mentality. Depth, because the bench added quality when the game asked for it. Mentality, because the players kept the faith through a rocky spell and struck when it mattered most.

He also nodded to Espanyol’s part in making the night so demanding. Calling it a "true derby with a special atmosphere" was both respect and realism. Derbies are rarely clean. This one wasn’t. But Barcelona found a way.

"Flick’s subs flipped the derby. That’s coaching."

What It Means for the Spanish Super Cup

Winning to start 2026 is more than a nice line in a form guide. It fuels belief for the Spanish Super Cup ahead. Flick has a goalkeeper in peak shape, a bench that can change games, and a group that knows how to suffer and still succeed. Those are tools for knockout football.

But there’s also the checklist he and Koundé flagged. Barcelona need to tighten the spaces in front of Garcia. They must control transitions better. And they have to cut the number of shots they allow. Do that, and the ceiling rises fast. Keep depending on last-ditch stops, and the margins get thin.

Final Word

This derby didn’t crown a perfect team. It did something more useful: it confirmed Barcelona’s floor is higher because Joan Garcia is in goal. Flick knows it, the players know it, and now the Super Cup opponents do too. The coach is right to celebrate the three points and the performance from his No. 1. He’s just as right to ask for more control so those saves become the safety net, not the main plan.

For now, the headline fits. Barcelona have a win to build on and a keeper who looks ready for the biggest stages. If the structure in front of him sharpens even a little, this could be the start of a very promising stretch.