34-year-old player could retain his starting role for Barcelona in Spanish Super Cup games | OneFootball

FC Barcelona returned to winning ways with their first game of this new year as they emerged victorious from their Copa del Rey tie against UD Barbastro.

The Blaugranes were the clear favorites for this game, and thus this was a rather routine win for the team in general. However, this was still a special match for some players.

This was especially the case for Ronald Araújo, who returned to the pitch after his long-term absence due to injury, and Toni Fernández, who made his debut with the first team in this game.

However, he was not the only player who made his debut on the night, as the goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny also played his first game in a Barcelona shirt after having joined the Catalan club a few months ago following Marc-André ter Stegen’s long-term injury.

Szczęsny had an encouraging first appearance for FC Barcelona, and according to SPORT, he will continue to start in the Copa del Rey for Hansi Flick till the time the Catalans remain alive in the competition and can even get a starting role in the upcoming Spanish Super Cup.

However, Iñaki Peña will continue to be the starter in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League, and Hansi Flick has no doubts about this decision.

Thus, Szczęsny will continue to perform a counseling and supporting role for the youngsters in the dressing room. Barcelona are very happy with his professionalism and attitude in training, but the Pole knows of his place in the squad.

Flick is yet to make a decision about which one of them will start in the Spanish Super Cup, but Peña has already suffered heartbreak in this competition, as he was protecting the goal when Real Madrid emerged 4-1 winners in the final last year, and his chances of remaining the starting goalkeeper in this competition are still higher than Szczęsny’s.

Thus, he will be looking to get a chance to make amends and get over the disappointment he faced in his first-ever final with the Barcelona first team.