As FC Barcelona prepares to take on Atletico Madrid in a crucial La Liga match, the team’s recent form has been a cause for concern. Since November 10, Barcelona has only managed to win one game in the league, and their advantage over their rivals has all but disappeared. Both Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are currently tied on 38 points, with Real Madrid just one point behind.
According to Roman Kosecki, a former Polish national team player, this weekend’s match presents an ideal opportunity for Wojciech Szczęsny to make his debut. „I would be surprised if he doesn’t play against Atletico. Another loss, this time against Leganes, and the concession of a goal. Flick should be monitoring the situation, bang his fist on the table, and say it’s time for changes. Szczęsny’s debut against a top-class opponent like Atletico would be excellent. He won’t feel pressure, I’m convinced of that. Wojtek doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone,” Kosecki said in an interview with WP Sportowe Fakty.
Szczęsny himself has expressed his thoughts on the situation, stating that he wouldn’t be frustrated even if he were the coach of Barcelona, as the team has been playing well despite recent setbacks. „I wouldn’t hide that if I were the coach of this team, I would have played the same number of games as I have so far, so it’s hard for me to be frustrated with the situation, which I fully agree with,” Szczęsny said in an interview with Eleven Sports.
Kosecki has also been critical of coach Hansi Flick’s decisions, saying that he is showing weakness and not taking advantage of having a better goalkeeper in Szczęsny. „Flick is failing as a coach. He’s showing weakness. It’s said that the German likes to have a strong grip on the team, but this time I don’t see it. The dressing room is definitely behind Pena, and he’s making an incomprehensible decision instead of using a better goalkeeper,” Kosecki added.
When asked about the upcoming match, Kosecki predicted a tight contest, saying that if Atletico plays to their strengths, they could win or at least draw the game. „It’s a typical 50/50 situation. If Atletico plays on their own terms, they’ll win or at least take a draw from Catalonia. Otherwise, it could be a problem. The team from Madrid is on an upward trend. They should play offensively, and then they could aim for three points,” Kosecki concluded.
The highly anticipated match between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid is scheduled to take place on Saturday at 21:00. Fans can follow the live text commentary on Sport.pl and the Sport.pl LIVE mobile app.
Key Statistics:
* Barcelona has won only one game in La Liga since November 10.
* Atletico Madrid has won 11 games in a row.
* Wojciech Szczęsny has yet to make his debut for Barcelona.
* Hansi Flick has been criticized for his team selection and tactics.
* The upcoming match between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid is crucial for both teams’ title hopes.
