Iker sets clean sheets record
January 2008

Iker sets record...

Iker Casillas has not conceded a goal in 558 minutes of League action, a streak that has made the goalkeeper one of the unquestionable leaders on Bernd Schuster's squad.

Iker Casillas set another personal best on Sunday with Real Madrid's shut out win over Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderón. The Madridista goalkeeper joined an exclusive club of players after notching 558 straight minutes without conceding a goal. Only five other Real Madrid keepers have ever tallied six straight clean sheets: Buyo, Cañizares, Miguel Ángel, Juanito Alonso, and Domínguez.

The last team to score on Casillas was Racing Santander back in Matchday 14. Munitis' 72nd-minute goal in the Santiago Bernabéu paved the way to this extraordinary run of perfection.

One week later, Iker's saves and Van Nistelrooy's srike led Madrid to a hard-earned 0-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao.

The former youth teamer had one of his least busy days in Matchday 16 against Osasuna, but his performance the following week in Barcelona was simply sensational. Zaragoza came to town for the first match of the New Year and were stymied by Casillas, resulting in the great debate between Balon d'Or and goalkeeper recipients.

Casillas' effectiveness was again on display in Ciutat de Valencia, where Real Madrid defeated Levante 0-2 thanks to a brace by Van Nistelrooy and solid team play.

He tallied his six straight clean sheet last night in the Calderón despite the many opportunities created by the cross-town rival.

Casillas joins an exclusive club of players including Paco Buyo and Santiago Cañizares, who each played six straight matches without conceding a goal. The former's run took place between Matchday 14 and Matchday of the 1994/95 season, while the latter's between Matchday 2 and 8 of 1997/98.