Unbreachable: the Liga Iberdrola's watertight trio

For the only clubs in the Liga Iberdrola that have yet to concede this term, the big fat zero in their 'goals-against' column is very much a badge of honour. After three rounds of fixtures in the top flight of Spanish women's football, FC Barcelona, Valencia CF and Levante UD are the sole sides to have kept three clean sheets. This is unmistakably a team effort, but a sizeable amount of individual credit is also due to their goalkeepers, whom LaLiga caught up with to talk about their role and the beginning of the season.

Sandra Paños was named in the Women's Champions League Squad of the Season last term in recognition of her European exploits with Barça. On the other hand, she and Laura Rafols took turns between the sticks in the league. "Goalkeepers need a regular run of games, but things panned out that way last year, with rotation in goal, and a great keeper also has to be able to deliver whenever called upon. We try to complement and help one another. Whoever plays has the job of making saves for the team, while the other one has to offer support from the sidelines," the 23-year-old explained about the state of play during her first campaign in the Catalan capital. This time round, however, Paños has been selected for all three of her side's Liga Iberdrola matches to date and feels even more like she fits the part. In her words, "I think I've matured a lot, especially in the last year. I feel more at ease on the pitch. Coming to Barcelona was a step up and it was the right decision to make that move. The club is kicking on and so am I. I'm getting international call-ups and have earnt caps. Ultimately gaining experience playing for Barcelona and the national team strengthens your character and makes you more assured."

Paños has lofty aims for the current campaign. "Last year was difficult. We posted some good numbers, but we want to surpass them. In every game we walk on to the pitch determined not to settle for second best and believing we can achieve something fantastic," she noted, adding that, "Thanks to LaLiga and the Liga Iberdrola we have the opportunity to promote Spanish football, which we want to seize, and it's also a chance to showcase ourselves individually. The greater the spectacle, the better, and if we can compete while not letting in many goals, that's even better still." Despite seemingly having established herself as Xavi Llorens's undisputed number 1, she is taking nothing for granted: "I'm playing right now, but no one has told us that will be the status quo all season long." In any case, whether she or Rafols is wearing the gloves, her desire remains the same: "I hope the clean-sheet streak lasts a long time."

Valencia are not only tied with Barcelona in terms of number of goals conceded (or not conceded), but also where points and victories are concerned. Both have won three out of three. Summer signing Christiane Endler (aka Tiane), the Chile captain, has taken her place between the sticks for Las Che's two home encounters, while Esther Sullastres – who is in her second season at the club – started on their solitary away trip thus far. Tiane stressed how at home she is in her new surroundings: "The team gave me a very warm welcome and there's a really good atmosphere in the camp. The set-up seems very professional, they've made me feel really comfortable and I'm happy to be at Valencia."

As for her relationship with Sullastres, with whom she is vying for a spot, Tiane remarked that, "Esther and I get on really well. We're always training at full pelt and giving each other a hand. We're both capable of playing and whoever does so will have the other's backing. There is competition, there has to be, but we also support one another, safe in the knowledge that we're both ready to play and to perform at a high level."

It is not only between the sticks that Valencia have been acquitting themselves with distinction. The team could barely have made a better start to the campaign overall, having scored 11 goals while they are yet to pick the ball out of the back of their own net. Tiane was quick to point to her teammates' contribution in keeping the opposition at bay and echoed Paños in expressing the wish that her club can carry on in the same vein: "We've hardly been threatened so far and I hope that things continue that way, that we don't concede [many] and that it ends up being a good season for Valencia."

We need look no further than the other side of town to find the third and final Liga Iberdrola outfit whose goal has still not been breached this term. The city of Valencia's other major club, Levante, have also chalked up three consecutive clean sheets en route to recording two wins and a draw in the early weeks. Their number 1, Noelia Bermudez, came aboard midway through last season, but six months on she still remembers her debut as if it had been only yesterday. "We were up against the league leaders in my first appearance. It was my first match in Spain, I hadn't even been training with the team for two weeks; it was a game full of emotions, nerves and anxiety, because I was desperate to impress and to start off on the right foot," said the Costa Rican, before voicing her gratitude for what she saw as divine intervention in ensuring that her maiden outing went successfully.

Levante seem to be making a habit of throwing their goalies in at the deep end. Teenage former UD Collerense starlet Sandra Torres, who signed for Andres Tudela's side this past transfer window, started in the club's curtain-raiser against Real Sociedad, with Bermudez serving a suspension that had carried over from last season. "Despite her age – which is a bit strange to find myself saying, since I'm not all that much older – she looks to have great promise. She shone at Collerense and can do big things," gushed the first-choice custodian. That game ended 0-0, while the Granotes have won both of their two matches since, with Bermudez back between the sticks. "Our goal as a squad is to do better than last time out. We've picked up where we left off, having enjoyed a storming end to last season. We've been joking in the dressing room about the four defeats [with which the club kicked off last term] and saying, 'We're already seven points better off.' We've still got a lot of room for improvement, but the team are aiming high," stated the 22-year-old.

Speaking of last season, 2015/16 saw eventual league winners Athletic Club rack up a run of eight straight matchdays without conceding. Barcelona, Valencia and Levante are all already on three: will any of them manage to top the reigning champions' achievement?