Excessive Decline in Performance
Barcelona’s Biggest Concern Ahead of El Clásico
Wojciech Szczęsny, Barcelona’s Polish goalkeeper, has conceded 13 goals in his last 6 matches, raising doubts about his form.
According to reports, this may be Szczęsny’s worst period since becoming Barcelona’s first-choice goalkeeper. Defensive injuries have left him more exposed. While he hasn’t been directly at fault for recent goals, he hasn’t been able to play the role of a ‘savior’—a crucial trait for teams like Barcelona that dominate possession but get caught on counterattacks.
Szczęsny’s dip in form coincides with Marc-André ter Stegen’s return from injury. However, Barcelona’s coach Hansi Flick has confirmed that Szczęsny will start against Inter Milan and in El Clásico. This Sunday, Szczęsny will try to keep a clean sheet against Real Madrid—something he has managed only once in his last six matches.
13 Goals in 6 Matches
Szczęsny has conceded 13 goals in his last six matches—an average of over two per game. In the Champions League, he let in 10 goals across three matches: 3 against Dortmund, 3 against Inter Milan at Montjuïc, and 4 against AC Milan. He also conceded 2 against Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final and 3 against Celta Vigo in La Liga.
The only match where Szczęsny kept a clean sheet was against Mallorca at Montjuïc. He has recorded 13 clean sheets in 33 appearances for Barcelona.
Szczęsny was benched against Valladolid as Flick opted for the returning ter Stegen, who conceded one goal. Although Szczęsny remains the first-choice keeper, pressure is mounting, especially with the captain’s strong comeback.
21 Saves in 6 Matches
Despite conceding 13 goals, Szczęsny made 21 saves in these matches: 8 against Dortmund, 5 against Celta, none against Mallorca (as they had no shots on target), 5 in the Copa del Rey final, and 3 across both legs against Inter—all three at San Siro. Notably, in the home leg against Inter, he conceded 3 goals from 3 shots on target. He also completed 10 successful clearances.
His Record Against Real Madrid
Szczęsny has a chance to redeem himself this Sunday in a crucial La Liga clash against Real Madrid. Apart from conceding twice in the Copa del Rey final, he also let in one goal in the Spanish Super Cup final (5-2). In both matches, Barcelona emerged victorious, with Szczęsny delivering strong performances.
