David Raya is Arsenal's Goalkeeper, also the number 2 in the Spanish national team's goal. He is Catalan and a friend of many Barça players.
Raya, born in Barcelona, went to England before turning 17 years old. There he made his fortune. Southport, Blackburn, Brentford, and Arsenal have been his teams.
Messages of Encouragement Coming from Barça
This Wednesday he will be in charge of putting a stop to the madness expected at Bernabéu on a comeback night.
David Raya doesn't get nervous, he knows what's coming and is willing to withstand it. His friends from Barça, who are many more than those from Real Madrid due to his presence in the national team, have sent him messages of encouragement.
They have given him advice based on their recent experience of winning 4-0 at Bernabéu. David Raya would settle for much less, as they have asked him not to lose his nerve, to be himself, and to enjoy.
Gavi, Cubarsí, Pedri, and Fermín are among those who have sent messages of encouragement to Arsenal's goalkeeper.
His career is impeccable at Arsenal, where he is a key piece. He has been essential in the gunners' solid defense this season.
In the Premier League, Arsenal is the least scored against, with only 27 goals conceded in 32 matches.Raya has kept a clean sheet 16 times, earning him the Golden Glove in the 2023-2024 season.
5 Goals Conceded in 10 Champions League Matches
In the Champions League, he has played 10 matches, conceding only 5 goals and achieving 6 clean sheets. On paper, the Madrid task seems impossible. They have to score 4 goals in one match against a goalkeeper who has conceded 5 in 10 matches.
David Raya - Elite Goalkeeper (2024/25)
But nothing is impossible at Bernabéu when Real Madrid appeals to the epic. Raya knows it, no matter how mentally prepared he is for the match.
The match against Real Madrid represents an opportunity for Raya to prove his worth on the European stage and continue establishing himself as one of the best goalkeepers on the continent.
With the support of his teammates and his outstanding performance this season, the Spanish goalkeeper will seek to be decisive in the knockout stage.
The Danger of David Raya
Real Madrid players must be very alert when the ball falls into David Raya's hands. One of his main virtues is his ability to read the game and launch his teammates' counterattack. He does it with hand passes over fifty yards (50 m).
The Madrid attacking trio must be alert to prevent Arsenal's goalkeeper from setting up his team's counterattack. It must be expected that he will do it on more than one occasion.