The home fans were ready to celebrate. Pere Milla had headed the ball from the edge of the six-yard box and it was hurtling towards the top-right corner. But Joan Garcia reacted with astonishing speed, his raised right hand tipping the ball over the crossbar. Carlos Romero shook his hand and snorted in disbelief at what his former team-mate had just done, which was produce one of the best saves of the season — and of his career.

Despite Espanyol’s best attempts, Garcia’s seventh clean sheet in the league this season contributed significantly to Barcelona’s 2-0 victory, one which leaves them seven points ahead of Real Madrid.

Until last season, the RCDE Stadium in Cornella, nine kilometres south-west of the Camp Nou, had been Garcia’s home since he was 15 years old. But then Barcelona this summer paid his €25million (£21.7m; $29.3m) release clause and fans felt betrayed at losing a player who had been key to the team’s survival the previous season.

Ever since the date of this fixture was revealed, the home fans were intent on making 24-year-old feel the heat. In the first match after the Christmas break, Garcia’s return to his former home, and thoughts over the reception he would receive, was a topic that occupied hours of discussion on television and radio programmes in the weeks leading up to the match.

Nets were placed behind both goals to prevent objects from being thrown, stuffed animals were banned from the stadium — one of the things fans wanted to do was throw stuffed rats at him — and both clubs called for common sense and respect as they took special measures ahead of the game.

On the morning of the match, Barcelona woke up to Espanyol-supporting posters plastered around the city’s most iconic locations. The atmosphere promised to be more hostile than ever for Barça, and Garcia, and so it proved.

Espanyol fans show their support to the home team during the match against Barcelona (Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Around the stadium before kick-off, stuffed rats, fake banknotes with the player’s face on them and chants against Garcia flooded the area.

With no one else on the pitch, Garcia came out for his warm-up to a half-empty stadium but still the boos were deafening. It was something he would have to get used to, as it continued throughout the match every time Garcia touched the ball.

Such an atmosphere would have broken anyone’s spirit. But not Garcia’s.

On the most difficult day, he played one of his best games, if not the best, saving his team who were below par against an inspired Espanyol. He made six saves, each one more incredible than the last. So, let’s break down them down.

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The first save was a statement of intent and came in the 19th minute. Edu Exposito passed the ball to Roberto Fernandez, who was left alone in front of the goalkeeper. The Espanyol striker shot in a one-on-one situation, Garcia stopped the ball, which remained inside the area.