““Retired” Wojciech Szczesny is playing “nil” for the second match in a row after resuming his career.”, — write: football.ua
“Retired” Wojciech Szczesny is playing “nil” for the second match in a row after resuming his career.
Athletic – Barcelona, Getty Images January 8, 2025, 11:01 p.m
Especially when the Catalan Barcelona participates in the competition, about whose financial problems in recent years only a lazy person has not spoken. This time, the “Blaugranas” needed the maximum possible 9 million euros in prize money, also with the aim of registering Dani Olmo and Pau Victor for the second part of the season. But no one would just hand a bag of money into Joan Laporta’s hands — to begin with, they had to beat the current winner of the Spanish Cup, Basque Athletic.
At first, it seemed that the hype, which to a greater degree gathered around this match, compared to the Italian teams, should be affected by the acoustic accompaniment of the game, but no. Arab fans support European teams reluctantly, so we sat for most of the match as if at a UPL game in the old days. And in vain – there were enough emotional moments.
Hans-Dieter Flick’s team showed a strong start again and scored in the 17th minute through the efforts of Gavi, who reached the center of the penalty area through the left flank and the legs of Rafinha, Pedri and Balde. But the “lions” noticeably lacked Nico Williams in the starting line-up, so everything was very difficult for Ernesto Valverde’s team.
In contrast to the “Blaugranas”, who wasted more than trying to immediately increase their own advantage, although they had all the prerequisites for this. Even Unai Simon, without proper game practice, sometimes gave out bright pearls near his own possessions during the game on the way out, although Wojciech Szczesny did not go far from him, but the Pole at least had an excuse in the form of an interrupted retirement.
Atlético woke up in the plan of attack just before the end of the first half and Ignacy forced the Catalan goalkeeper to do a good job with several shots. However, the Basques failed to sustain this rush in the second half, and they conceded for the second time in the 52nd minute, when Gavi delivered the ball to the right wing of a free kick for Yamal, who beat the goalkeeper of the Spanish national team.
The mood around the football field at that time was already such that the match could be ended prematurely. But it turned out to be just a trap for Barca, which, in fact, was engaged in finishing the game, while the opponents still had certain plans in attacking actions. In the end, Athletic also scored twice in this game, when the flanks of the opponent’s defense failed. However, there are nuances.
With the offside of De Marcos during the transfer of Nico Williams under the curtain of the game, there were no questions, as there were already adequately interpreted by VAR. But what exactly happened in the 86th minute, when de Jong, under pressure, gave Ignacy the opportunity to score is an open question. We were openly hinted by replays that the ball in the fight against Niko went to his brother precisely from the Spaniard, but it was almost impossible to see that moment. As a result, two Basque goals were not counted, and Szczesny got a second “dry” match, although he might not have played at all if Peña had not been late for training.
Referee Miguel Angel Ortiz Arias’ final whistle sent Catalans Barcelona into the deciding game of the Spanish Super Cup, while the tournament came to a premature end for Basque side Athletic.
Athletic — Barcelona 0:2
Goals: Gavi, 17, Yamal, 52
Athletic: Simon – Lecue (De Marcos, 63), Vivian, Paredes, Berchiche – Prados (Vesga, 63), Hauregisar – I. Williams, Gomez (Djalo, 80), Berenger (Serrano, 73) — Guruseta (N. Williams, 63).
Barcelona: Szczesny — Kunde, Kubarsi, Martinez, Balde (Martin, 83) — Casado (Garcia, 83), Pedri, Gavi (Torres, 73) — Rafinha, Lewandowski (de Jong, 73), Yamal (Fermin, 64).
Warnings: Berenger, Gomez – Kunde