Confirmation this week that Víctor Valdés will be out for up to seven months after tearing his cruciate knee ligament last weekend, and Pinto stepped in to replace him for the Barcelona city derby at Espanyol’s Cornellà stadium. The ex Celta keeper managed a clean sheet, although his opposite number Kiko Casilla (being watched by Vicente Del Bosque as a possible replacement for Valdés in the Spain squad) didn’t last the ninety minutes after getting himself sent off for handling outside of the area late on. With all three changes made, Javi López (who had already demonstrated his handling abilities when he gave away a penalty!) volunteered to go in goal, and he actually made a couple of late saves from Alexis! Maybe Del Bosque will decide to take the universal utility man to Brazil instead of a third keeper?!?

Four more clean sheets in another low scoring weekend, with Yoel (Celta), Keylor Navas (Levante), Diego López (Real Madrid) and Jaime (Valladolid) all keeping their goals against column to zero. The red card for Casilla means that Yoel and Diego López are two of only four “porteros” who have played every minute of the current campaign so far, the others being Esteban (Almería) and Willy Caballero (Málaga). Esteban’s team mate Trujillo is matching them though, and he could be the first outfielder since Coloccini (Deportivo 2007-8) to make it through to the end of the season. Elsewhere there was one goalkeeping change, Sevilla’s Beto pulling out of the squad for the match at Celta with an injury, Javi Varas (who played on loan at the Balaidos stadium last season) coming in to replace him. ( 01.04.14 )

Zamoras Games played Goals against Difference
Courtois (Atlético) 30 20 -10
Valdés (Barcelona) 25 21 -4
Iraizoz (Athletic Bilbao) 27 27 0
Diego López (Real Madrid) 31 32 +1
Casilla (Espanyol) 31 36 +5
Asenjo (Villarreal) 30 35 +5
Keylor Navas (Levante) 29 34 +5
Diego Alves (Valencia) 22 27 +5
Manu Herrera (Elche) 22 28 +6
Caballero (Málaga) 31 39 +8
Roberto (Granada) 30 39 +9
Bravo (Real Sociedad) 30 41 +11
Yoel (Celta) 31 44 +13
Beto (Sevilla) 29 42 +13
Moyà (Getafe) 26 40 +14