Scouting Report: Can Claudio Bravo Win the Starting Barcelona Goalkeeping Job?
Real Sociedad's Chilean international Claudio Bravo, a 6'1", 185-pound goalkeeper, is a Barcelona summer transfer window target, per AS (via Tom Conn at Inside Spanish Football).
If the 31-year-old moves to Barcelona, can he win the starting goalkeeper job from Marc-Andre ter Stegen?
To cover that scenario, this article grades Bravo's display against Spain in the 2014 FIFA World Cup and provides a scouting report on his season for Sociedad.
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Bravo vs. Spain Grade: A
Bravo outperformed his more illustrious counterpart, Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas, who for the second game running committed an error that led to a goal conceded.
Registering a clean sheet, Bravo made six saves, four more than Casillas.
Bravo displayed solid positioning when saving free-kicks from Spanish centre-back Sergio Ramos and Spanish substitute Santi Cazorla.
Bravo Sociedad Positives
Bravo made 55 more saves than Victor Valdes, per Fox Soccer.
Like Levante's Keylor Navas and Malaga's Willy Caballero, Bravo was tested constantly week in, week out.
Staring down then-Real Valladolid (now Spartak Moscow) right attacking midfielder Patrick Ebert, Bravo saves the penalty.
Closing down then-Atletico Madrid (now New York City) centre-forward David Villa, Bravo records a one-on-one save.
Villarreal left-winger Moi Gomez is denied from close range via Bravo's reflex save.
Bravo Sociedad Negatives
Bravo's inattentiveness is a major concern.
Barcelona right-forward Alexis Sanchez delivers an off-balance cross, but Bravo inexplicably mishandles the ball, gifting Barcelona left-forward Neymar a goal.
Elche central attacking midfielder Coro poaches a goal because Bravo flaps at a corner.
As Valencia's Rayo Vallecano loanee Jonathan Viera charges towards goal, Bravo slides in to concede an inane penalty.
Bravo parries the shot of Real Madrid centre-forward Karim Benzema into the path of Real Madrid central midfielder Asier Illarramendi, who scores a tap-in.
Holding on to the ball, Bravo surveys the field and then gives up a cheap goal.
He kicks the ball at Real Madrid right-forward Gareth Bale, who controls the ball and strikes it straight into the opposite bottom corner.
Bottom Line
| Saves | 123 | 144 |
| Saves Per Goal Conceded | 2.4 | 3.3 |
| Saves Per Game | 3.3 | 4.2 |
| Save % | 70.3 | 77.8 |
| Clean Sheets | 12 | 9 |
Ter Stegen is a once-in-a-generation type of goalkeeper, so he will be given leeway as the No. 1.
However, if he makes costly blunders for an extended period of time, Barcelona could have an experienced back-up in Bravo who had a solid game against Spain.
That said, Bravo's tendency to make gaffes is a red flag.
Statistics via WhoScored.com.
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