Barcelona drew 2-2 in the final match of the Champions League group stage against Atalanta, maintaining second place with 19 points, while the Catalan team could have finished the group stage as leaders had they won tonight.
Despite Liverpool’s defeat, Barcelona failed to seize the opportunity to take the lead, remaining in second place and postponing the dream to another stage.
According to information from the Catalan newspaper “Sport,” goalkeeper Iñaki Peña has sparked anger and frustration after being repeatedly excluded from the starting lineup by German coach Hansi Flick.
Despite his good performances in previous matches, Flick’s preference for Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny, who has made disastrous mistakes in recent matches, has exacerbated Peña’s feelings of anger. He feels deeply upset by what he sees as an injustice toward him.
While the German coach continues to ignore the Spanish goalkeeper, Iñaki Peña has decided to seriously consider his future with the team and is contemplating leaving in search of a greater opportunity to play. This situation has intensified his feelings of loneliness and frustration, prompting his teammates, Pedri and Raphinha, to approach him after the match against Atalanta to console him. The two players assured him that he did not deserve the treatment he was receiving and that he was the right choice to be Barcelona’s goalkeeper at this time.
The current situation at Barcelona and with goalkeeper Peña requires urgent attention, as his continued neglect could threaten the team’s stability. Meanwhile, Iñaki Peña is moving toward making a decisive decision regarding his future.