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WORLD FOOTBALL

    Claudio Bravo Sets Record for Minutes Without Conceding Goal to Start La Liga

    Gianni Verschueren@ReverschPassX.com LogoFeatured ColumnistOctober 4, 2014

    Barcelona's new signing Chile's goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, pauses, during his official presentation as a new player for FC Barcelona at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Monday, July 7, 2014. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
    Emilio Morenatti/Associated Press

    Barcelona's Claudio Bravo set a new La Liga record by going 561 minutes without conceding a goal to open the season, breaking the previous mark set by former Blaugrana stopper Pedro Artola.

    Infostrada Sports confirmed the record had been broken in the 21st minute of the Catalans' match against Rayo Vallecano:

    Gracenote Live @GracenoteLive

    21' - Barcelona's Claudio Bravo sets an all-time Liga record by keeping a clean sheet in the first 561 minutes of the season. #fcblive

    The club's Twitter feed shared the news that the record would remain with the Blaugrana:

    FC Barcelona 🏆🏆 @FCBarcelona

    Claudio Bravo breaks Artola's record unbeaten start to a league season http://t.co/rNOP4JeBpg

    The Chile international is in his first season with the club and became the default starter when Marc-Andre Ter Stegen missed time during the summer with an injury, but his performances to start the campaign have made it difficult for Luis Enrique to justify benching the 31-year-old.

    Alberto Bueno nearly ruined the record just minutes before Bravo bettered the mark on Saturday, forcing the stopper into a fine save with a stinging shot.

    Artola himself told El Mundo Deportivo (h/t to Goal's Joe Wright) he had no doubt Bravo would break his record:

    I thought my record was already broken. Bravo will beat it comfortably.

    He is in great condition and he knows Spanish football. He's made sure no-one remembers [Victor] Valdes - and that is important and difficult.

    Claudio Bravo Sets Record for Minutes Without Conceding Goal to Start La Liga
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    Sport English were one of many to congratulate the stopper on his excellent start to the season:

    SPORT English @Sport_EN

    Congratulations to Claudio Bravo who has beaten Pedro Artola's record by going 561 minutes without a goal since the start of the season.

    The record for longest clean sheet in La Liga history is still held by former Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Abel Resino, who went 1,275 minutes without conceding in the 1990-91 season.