Barcelona faced off against Benfica in the second leg of the Champions League last-16 with a narrow 1-0 lead, thanks in large part to the outstanding performance of Wojciech Szczesny.
In the first leg in Lisbon, Pedri was named Man of the Match, but Szczesny humorously claimed he deserved “half” of the award, a sentiment echoed by his teammate. As Barcelona prepared for the second leg at the Olympic Stadium, all eyes were on Szczesny to deliver once again.
The Polish goalkeeper’s crucial saves kept Barcelona in the game after Pau Cubarsi’s early red card, preserving the lead given to them by Raphinha’s goal. Since joining Barcelona on an emergency deal in October, following Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s injury, Szczesny has truly proven his worth.
Szczesny’s journey to becoming Barcelona’s No. 1 goalkeeper has been quite remarkable. After retiring from football in August 2024 and settling in Marbella, he was called out of retirement to fill in for Ter Stegen’s absence. Despite a few early errors, Szczesny has shown immense resilience and has been a key player in Barcelona’s recent success.
Under the guidance of coach Flick, Szczesny has played a crucial role in Barcelona’s turnaround, with the team winning 12 out of 14 matches since his arrival. His defensive contributions have been instrumental in Barcelona’s resurgence, with the team now boasting 8 clean sheets in their last 14 games.
While Szczesny remains modest about his performance, hinting that his best is yet to come, Barcelona fans are excited about the team’s prospects in the Champions League. With Szczesny settled and in top form, Barcelona is in a strong position to progress to the quarter-finals.
Looking ahead, Barcelona could face Borussia Dortmund or Lille in the next round, and Szczesny’s stellar form will be crucial in their pursuit of major trophies. As Barcelona competes on multiple fronts, Szczesny’s contributions could prove to be the key to their success in the Champions League and beyond.
