FC Barcelona hosts Real Sociedad this Sunday (6:30 PM CEST) in their third match as locals in LaLiga EA Sports 2025/26. Hansi Flick's team arrives to the match with new sensitive losses after confirming the injuries of Raphinha and Joan García. The absence of the Catalan goalkeeper opens the doors of the XI to Wojciech Szczesny.
The Pole seems to be touched by the magic wand this 2025. In January, a delay of Iñaki Peña to a session of the squad allowed him to take the position, after almost three months as a substitute for the Alicante native. 'Tek' renewed in July for two more years, until June 2027 and, now, he has a golden opportunity to regain prominence.
The 35-year-old goalkeeper played 120 minutes in the three friendlies of Barça's Asian tour in preseason. Afterwards, he stayed on the bench in the Gamper against Como (5-0) and in the first seven commitments of the 'culés' in the 25/26 season (six of Liga and one of Champions).
Szczesny: the return of Barça's amulet in the 24/25
Last season, Szczesny was an authentic amulet for Barça since his debut in Copa del Rey against Barbastro. Barça did not lose until the beginning of April (3-1 against Dortmund) with the Pole in the goal and, finally, closed a historic season obtaining the domestic treble (Liga, Copa and Supercopa).
In total, 'Tek' played 30 matches (2,726 minutes) in which he received 36 goals, in addition to completing 14 clean sheets. Although he left doubts in his first presentations in Supercopa and Champions, the goalkeeper adapted to the advanced defensive line of the 'culés' and, thanks to his experience and charisma, he became one of Hansi Flick's untouchables.
Now, the Pole will try to reaffirm the confidence of a Barça that, after taking him out of retirement, offered him two more years of contract. The '25' has full disposition to help the team in whatever he can and aims to stay in the XI, at least, until the end of October, since Joan García will be out between 4 and 6 weeks.
The one from Sallent, in his first 7 presentations with Barcelona, received 5 goals, completing outstanding performances against Rayo (he was MVP of the match) and Newcastle (in Champions). Szczesny, meanwhile, will return to the XI 135 days after his last match, on May 15 against Espanyol (0-2). That day, Barça secured the Liga title.
| MP | GA | CS | MIN | Y | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 36 (1.2 p.p.) | 14 | 2.726 | 1 | 1 |
- MP: matches played
- GA: goals against
- CS: clean sheets
- MIN: minutes
- Y: yellow cards
- R: red cards
Other alternatives for Barça's goal against Real Sociedad
In addition to 'Tek', the goalkeepers from the reserve team Eder Aller and Emilio Bernad were part of Saturday's session. The first one was already on the bench against Oviedo, while the second one will be available for the coach of Barça Atlètic, Juliano Belletti, for Sunday's match against Sant Andreu (8:45 PM CEST).
Hansi Flick's coaching staff is also attentive to the return of Diego Kochen. The American returned from Chile after traveling with his national team for the U-20 World Cup, once Joan García's absence was confirmed.
If the one from Miami does not return in time to enter the call-up, Aller will be the only alternative to Szczesny against the 'donostiarras', since Marc-André ter Stegen is still continuing his recovery process after undergoing back surgery in July.
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