In a surprise decision by Hansi Flick, the Catalan team’s star player loses his place as a starter permanently

Barcelona secured a dominant victory over Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final, but the celebrations at Camp Nou were tinged with some concerns. The Catalan side controlled the match from start to finish, showcasing clear superiority over their rivals, as reflected in the 5-1 final score.

However, a surprising development occurred when Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, who had been a key player in coach Hansi Flick’s system, made a costly mistake by being sent off in the 56th minute. This left Barcelona with a man advantage and contributed to the overwhelming result. Flick had shown confidence in Szczesny by starting him in both the semi-final and the final, but his red card raised doubts about his reliability in critical moments.

Iñaki Peña’s strong performance in the Super Cup did not go unnoticed by Flick, who values players’ ability to handle pressure. Peña not only provided defensive stability but also demonstrated composure in the tense match. Although Szczesny had appeared to be the first-choice goalkeeper recently, his dismissal, paired with Peña’s solid display, could prompt Flick to reconsider his decision.

With upcoming domestic and European matches, Flick faces a crucial decision between the experienced Szczesny and the promising Peña. While Szczesny has a wealth of experience in high-stakes matches, his mistake in the final has left questions about his consistency. On the other hand, Peña has shown that he’s ready for the responsibility, potentially earning Flick’s trust for future games.

Szczesny’s red card in the Clasico may be a pivotal moment for Barcelona’s goalkeeping situation, and now, Flick must carefully evaluate who will be his number one goalkeeper moving forward.