Barcelona secured a 2-0 victory over Athletic Membership within the Spanish Tremendous Cup semi-finals, advancing to the ultimate set on January 12. The match, performed on the King Abdullah Sports activities Metropolis, noticed targets from Gavi and Lamine Yamal, making certain Barcelona’s place within the ultimate. Nonetheless, the pre-match headlines targeted on a stunning resolution: Wojciech Szczesny beginning in purpose as a substitute of Iñaki Peña, who was initially slated to guide the protection.
Barcelona’s efficiency on the sector was nothing in need of dominant. Gavi opened the scoring within the seventeenth minute, capitalizing on a cross from Balde. The lead was doubled within the second half when Lamine Yamal scored within the 53rd minute, firing a shot from contained in the penalty space. Though Athletic Bilbao tried to stage a comeback with two disallowed targets late within the sport, Barcelona held agency.
The victory units the Blaugrana up for a conflict in opposition to the winner of the Actual Madrid vs. Mallorca semi-final, which is able to determine their opponent for the coveted Tremendous Cup title.
Earlier than the match, Iñaki Peña was anticipated to start out as Barcelona’s goalkeeper. The choice to switch him with Wojciech Szczesny raised eyebrows. The Polish keeper, who had beforehand began in Barcelona’s Copa del Rey match in opposition to Barbastro, was as soon as once more known as upon by coach Hansi Flick. The reasoning behind this sudden change was unclear through the build-up, leaving followers speculating concerning the circumstances.
The Actual Cause: Punctuality Issues
Because the match progressed, the thriller unraveled. In keeping with Cope journalist Helena Condis, Iñaki Peña arrived late to the workforce’s activation session on the lodge earlier than the sport. The incident, although minor, was sufficient for Hansi Flick to behave decisively.
Peña reportedly didn’t oversleep however miscalculated the time of the session. Flick, recognized for his strict strategy to self-discipline, selected to implement his guidelines by relegating Peña to the bench.
Flick’s stance on punctuality has been evident since his arrival at Barcelona. “If you happen to arrive late, you don’t play,” Pedri as soon as acknowledged, reflecting the coach’s no-nonsense perspective. Jules Koundé had already confronted comparable penalties earlier within the season for arriving late to a gathering, reinforcing the German coach’s dedication to sustaining self-discipline throughout the squad.
For Szczesny, this marked his second look in Barcelona’s colours, following his debut in opposition to Barbastro within the Copa del Rey. Regardless of the surprising circumstances, the Polish veteran proved dependable, conserving a clear sheet and contributing to his aspect’s victory.
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