Last night Barcelona got a narrow win against Benfica in Lisbon with a 1-0 lead in the first leg of the Round of 16 tie. The man of the match according to the UEFA Champions League team was Pedri, he had a great game on paper, but for me and many Barcelona fans, it was none other than Szczęsny.
Let’s imagine a terrifying scenario: What if Ter Stegen had been in goal instead? Let’s be honest, if Ter Stegen had started the game instead of Szczęsny, we might not even be talking about the second leg right now.
This game was arguably one of the hardest games of the season, away from home. Szczęsny being the one-man army kept our team alive after Pau Cubarsi’s red card, making eight crucial saves. Without the experienced Polish being in goal, the scoreline would have looked like another European nightmare.
Ter-Stegen Under Pressure = Disaster
There is no doubt, that Stegen has been a world-class goalie for Barcelona over the years. But in a game in which Barcelona is under pressure, the German usually fumbles. From 8-2 humiliations to his questionable shot-stopping poses, he has developed a reputation for conceding when it matters the most.
Is Stegen capable of making those eight heroic saves? I am quite doubtful about it. Here’s why?
🚨 Weak against Long-Shots: When Barcelona tracked back after the lead, Benfica attempted several dangerous long-range efforts which Szczęsny punched away. Stegen? We have seen him being disturbed by many, from Sane’s strike to Vitina’s placed finish last season.
🚨 Nervous With Crosses: Benfica bombarded the box with dangerous crosses after the red card, Szczęsny being calm-headed dealt with them brilliantly. Stegen sticks the goal line and invites danger, just like PSG scoring 2 goals last season from clear crosses.
🚨 Questionable Decision-Making: When the team is down to 10 men, they need a goalie who can read the game well and utilize the lead accordingly. Szczęsny did exactly that and made the correct decision the majority of the time. Based on Stegen’s past performances, he is not the best under pressure.
Conclusion
This is not by any means of degrading Stegen, he is a great goalkeeper, one of the club’s best. It’s just an opinion piece on why Stegen is not the best in games like these. Leave your thoughts in the comments below.