FC Barcelona have a blessed dilemma in goal. The future of Barça goal will depend on the decisions made by Jonatan Giráldez at the start of the season. Until now, Sandra Paños was the undisputed first choice goalkeeper, but the great World Cup of Cata Coll has generated doubts in the Catalan team. Who will be the chosen one, Sandra Paños or Cata Coll?
The season has kicked off and it seems that the starting goalkeeper isn’t entirely clear. Sandra Paños and Cata Coll are battling for the position thanks to their good performances. Also on the radar is Gemma Font who, despite her good minutes, seems to be out of this fight at the start of the season.
Sandra Paños:
Sandra Paños has been FC Barcelona’s first-choice goalkeeper for several seasons without discussion. At 30 years of age, she has once again had a great season defending the blaugrana goal. She has been a key player in winning LaLiga, the Spanish Super Cup and the Champions League. The Valencian played a total of 31 games, as she missed a few games at the start of the campaign due to injury.
Sandra Paños’ importance at Barça goes beyond her good performances on the pitch. The goalkeeper is a born leader and is therefore one of the captains. She is good with her feet and her reflexes make ‘impossible’ saves possible. She has won everything and still shows the same ambition as on the first day. For yet another season, she is nominated for The Best award, proving that she is still one of the best in the world.
Sandra Paños has a contract only until 2024 and her desire to compete is infinite. I doubt that the Alicante-born player will be content to rotate her position. In the first league game (second matchday) against Madrid CFF she was a substitute, but in the next two (Sporting Huelva and Valencia) she has returned to the starting line-up. She only conceded one goal in these games.
Cata Coll:
Cata Coll is being one of the great sensations in the world of football in recent months. At 22 years of age, he is asking for a step forward and continuity in the Barça goal. After four seasons in the shadows, she knows that her time has come and she must make the leap to the starting line-up.
The Mallorcan signed for FC Barcelona in the 19/20 season at just 18 years of age. That same season, the goalkeeper spent a year on loan at Sevilla FC, where she played more than fifteen matches at a high level. The summer before joining the Catalan side, Cata Coll made a name for herself in football thanks to the U-17 World Cup and European Championship, where she was a starter and champion in both tournaments.
Cata Coll has been with the Blue and Whites for three seasons now, waiting for her chance. She is considered one of the most promising goalkeepers in Spain. Last season it looked like it could be hers, but she suffered a cruciate ligament injury and was only able to play three games. That didn’t stop her from going to the World Cup, where she was called up to play for Spain.
The World Cup was her golden opportunity. Misa Rodríguez seemed to be the undisputed goalkeeper, but that changed in the round of 16. Cata took advantage of that match to take her place until the end, showing incredible confidence and making great saves. She became world champion and her performances were key to her success.
It can be said that the World Cup has marked a before and after in Cata Coll’s career. She has gone from living the worst of football to living the best in a matter of months. She has also been nominated for The Best goalkeeper of the year. She has a contract until 2026 and is one of the club’s firm bets. She played her first league game against Madrid CFF and kept a clean sheet. The goalkeeper needs regularity and seems to be knocking down the door to demand more well-deserved minutes.
Jonatan Giráldez now has the big task. “The team that is best placed to compete will play,” said the coach a few weeks ago. Many more teams would like to have this problem. Not forgetting that Txell Font, 18 years old and golden glove at the U-20 World Cup in 2022, who also renewed his contract this summer, is coming on strong from below. A clear option for the future.
It is clear that FC Barcelona has very good goalkeeping cover for many years to come. Any of the options they have on the table is going to be good. Experience or a gamble on the future? Perhaps that is the main doubt. It is clear that all of them want regularity and to win the position, which only one can have. That said, it will be a key year to decide the future of the four goalkeepers.
Translated by Marcos Rodríguez.
Images from @FCBFemeni.
At ELXIIDEAL we have a great opportunity to advertise your business via our website and social media network.
