Ter Stegen and Remiro meet as the battle for the Zamora Trophy hots up

Matchday 35 of LaLiga concludes on Monday with a great game as Barça play Real Sociedad at the Estadi Olímpic. Both sides played in the Champions League this season, with the former aiming to finish second in the table, and the latter fighting to ensure a spot for European competition next season, potentially in the Europa League, but failing that, in the Conference League.

Two of LaLiga's great goalkeepers

Both teams can count on bastions between the sticks to help them achieve them aims, namely Marc-André ter Stegen and Álex Remiro. The German and the Spaniard have been showing they are some of the best keepers in the competition for years. As well as this game being important for their respective teams' ambitions, it could also have a big say in where the Zamora Trophy (for lowest "goals-to-games" ratio) ends up. The blaugrana stopper is the current holder, having won it for the first time last season.

Ter Stegen has to play to be up for the Zamora trophy

Ter Stegen hasn't qualified to be in with a chance of the trophy yet, as his injury this season means he is yet to play at least 60 minutes in at least 28 games. He has played 24, however, and he would qualify if he plays the final four fixtures. It would then come down to the ratio to see if he is in with a chance of winning. Having conceded 26 goals in 24 games so far, the German's ratio is 1.08 goals per game, placing him third behind Álex Remiro himself, who has conceded one goal per game, and Unai Simón with a ratio of 0.97, which increased after conceding two goals against Osasuna during this round of fixtures.

Second Zamora Trophy the target

So, if Barça can replicate the defensive solidity they showed during periods of this season, Ter Stegen will be up for his second Zamora Trophy, while Remiro is aiming for his first, which would make him the second Real Sociedad keeper to win it, after the legendary Luis Arconada, who won it for three consecutive seasons from 1979 to 1982. A Ter Stegen win would mean a 22nd blaugrana Zamora trophy, but he would still trail Víctor Valdés who won five.