Joan García walked into the Derbi Barceloní wearing Barcelona colors, and Espanyol’s crowd made sure he felt it.

He was once treated like a hero by many fans for helping Espanyol survive a tense relegation fight. But after his move across the city, the love turned into anger. On January 3, 2026, the boos were nonstop.

From “hero” to target: how the mood changed

Not long ago, Joan García was one of the most trusted players at Espanyol. During a season filled with pressure and fear, he became a key reason the club stayed in the division.

Espanyol’s survival was built on fine margins. They did not dominate games. They did not score freely. They depended on discipline, effort, and a goalkeeper who could hold everything together.

That goalkeeper was García.

In the decisive final game of the season on May 24, 2025, against Las Palmas, García pulled off four crucial saves to protect a 2–0 win that confirmed Espanyol’s safety and kept the club out of Segunda. Several of those stops came at moments when one goal could have changed everything.

After the final whistle, emotions spilled over. Local fans flooded the Cornella-El Prat pitch, lifting García high into the air, a scene that felt more like a movie than a football match. For many supporters, it was a release of weeks of tension, and García was at the center of it.

“He didn’t just change clubs, he changed the story we told about him.”

Why the Derbi Barceloní makes this different

Plenty of players move between clubs over time. But derbies are not normal games, and derby memories are not normal memories.

For Espanyol fans, the move was not just about football. It felt personal, like a symbol of who gets to claim the city, the attention, and the future.

January 3, 2026: boos, “rat” chants, and a cold reception

When Barcelona visited Espanyol, García was jeered heavily, including during warm-ups. Some supporters used the word “rat” to describe him, a harsh insult in Spanish football culture.

There were also signs and messages aimed at him. It turned the match into a loud reminder that his old relationship with the fanbase had collapsed.

• Booing whenever he touched the ball
• Insults linked to the transfer decision
• A hostile atmosphere designed to shake him

“If you can’t handle this noise, you can’t call yourself Barça’s keeper.”

Barcelona’s 2–0 win and why García mattered

Barcelona won 2–0, with Dani Olmo and Robert Lewandowski scoring late. But the scoreline does not tell the full story of the night. García’s job was to stay steady, not emotional. He made key saves and stayed calm while the stadium tried to pull him into chaos.

“They called him names, and he answered with saves. That’s the loudest reply.”

Flick’s backing, a message to the squad and the fans

After the match, Barcelona coach Hansi Flick praised García and thanked him publicly. It was more than a compliment. It was protection. In derby games, managers know one moment can break a player. Flick’s message was simple. The team stands with its goalkeeper, even when the stadium does not.

What happens next for García

This derby was never going to heal the split with Espanyol’s crowd. If anything, playing well in a Barcelona win can make the anger burn longer.

But for Barcelona, this is the point. A keeper who can survive a night like this and still deliver is exactly what a title-chasing team wants. The next derbies will test him again, but now everyone knows he will not hide.