Barcelona goalkeeper Víctor Valdés (pictured in action) grabbed the 3rd spot in the FTBL World Ranking of goalkeepers from Real Madrid’s Iker Casillas in the season opener as the Catalans convincingly defeated Sporting Gijón 3:0.
Valdés picked up 5 rating points in the game to boost his overall FTBL rating to 118.52 points, against Casillas’s 117.33 points, and he could extend that lead quite soon.
Given that it is almost a certainty that the national coach will prefer Casillas to Valdés when Spain take on Belgium, Casillas could end up dropping rating points, as he will have a maximum plank of 17.25 rating point to beat in that game. He set the plank when Spain trashed New Zealand 5:0 in the recent Confed Cup in South Africa.
To avoid a drop in the FTBL rating, Casillas will have to keep his slate clean in the game.
© FTBL