Barcelona secured a convincing win over Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final, but the celebrations at the Camp Nou were not without some worrying moments.
The Catalan team dominated the match from start to finish, displaying an unprecedented superiority over their rivals, Real Madrid, which was evident from the final result.
According to information from the Spanish newspaper “El Nacional,” Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, who seemed to have established himself as a key player in coach Hansi Flick’s system, made a mistake that could cost him dearly: he was sent off in the 56th minute, which contributed to turning the result in Barcelona’s favor with a crushing 1-5 victory.
Flick’s confidence in Szczesny was clear, as he relied on him in both the semi-final and the Super Cup final. However, his expulsion for a hasty exit left the team playing with ten men for more than half an hour. Although Barcelona had already secured the victory, this mistake raised doubts about the reliability of the Polish goalkeeper in decisive moments.
Iñaki Peña’s performance in the Super Cup did not go unnoticed by Hansi Flick, who has always appreciated his players’ ability to respond in difficult situations. Peña’s performance not only provided defensive security, but also demonstrated his character by calmly handling the pressure of a high-tension match.
The duel between Szczesny and Iñaki Peña for the No. 1 spot at Barcelona had seemed settled in the Polish goalkeeper’s favor in recent weeks. However, Szczesny’s dismissal and Peña’s excellent performance could change the coach’s mind. Flick, who does not make decisions lightly, could choose to give the Spaniard the chance to continue in the upcoming matches.
With the return to domestic and European competitions approaching, Flick will have to make a crucial decision about who will be the No. 1. On one hand, Szczesny has more experience in high-level matches, but his mistake in the final raised some questions. On the other hand, Iñaki Peña has shown that he is ready to take responsibility, and his performance against Real Madrid may have earned him the coach’s trust.
Szczesny’s dismissal in the Clasico could certainly be a turning point for Barcelona’s goalkeeping situation. Now, it is crucial for Flick to evaluate who will be his goalkeeper in the upcoming challenges.