Keylor Navas has a slice of history within his grasp. In Saturday's clash against Espanyol at the Power8 Stadium in Cornellà, the Costa Rican can become the first Real Madrid goalkeeper since 1975 to keep a clean sheet in the opening three league games of the season. The man who previously accomplished this feat, Miguel Ángel González Suárez, whose long career saw him play alongside the likes of Pirri, José Antonio Camacho and Vicente del Bosque, is convinced that Navas can follow in his footsteps and deserves his time in the limelight. "Keylor has what it takes to keep goal for Real Madrid. By all accounts he is a hard-working lad who is always looking to improve, day in, day out. He's a top pro", the 67-year-old - a veteran of 18 seasons at the Bernabéu - told MARCA.

The 1975 'Los Blancos' vintage kicked off their run to the title with a 2-0 win at home to Racing Santander, a goalless draw away to Oviedo and a 4-0 rout of Hércules at the Bernabéu. Dozens of shotstoppers have worn the gloves for Real Madrid in the 40 years since then, but none has been capable of matching Miguel Ángel's shutout streak to start the campaign.

Within Keylor's reach

They say that football is a funny old game and Navas would certainly agree. After looking for all the world to be leaving during the summer, the former Levante keeper has the chance to write his name in Real's history books. The Costa Rica international is intent on seizing his opportunity after this most dramatic of turnarounds.