A year ago, Hansi Flick’s Barça rolled out the red carpet for Sevilla: they were defeated 4-1 at the Sánchez Pizjuán. It was October and the eighth matchday of the League. The team could not maintain either the top spot in the standings or their unbeaten status before the corresponding international break. It was a dream match for Sevilla and a nightmare for Flick’s team who, without the injured Joan Garcia, opted for Wojciech Szczesny in goal.
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It is not October now. But the visit to Sánchez Pizjuán comes again before an international break, with Barcelona leading the League, without Joan Garcia, who is suffering from discomfort in his right knee, and barring a major surprise, with Szczesny in goal although something has changed. Deco, this summer, aware that Szczesny, who turns 37 in April, is already in the last year of his career and with Ter Stegen loaned to Ajax, began scouting the goalkeeper market. And he signed Croatian Dominik Livakovic (31) to gain experience. They waited and counted euro by euro until the last day of the market to be able to register the goalkeeper. They were aware of the need to find a replacement for the Pole and the difficulties there will be in upcoming markets to register players because the club will again be outside the 1-1 rule.
In training, however, Flick is set in his ways: Tek, who misses his compatriot Robert Lewandowski but exerts strong leadership in the team, remains the second goalkeeper. And the same happened against Racing, when Joan Garcia slipped and hurt his right knee. The Pole played the second half and conceded a goal as ridiculous as it was absurd. “He is a person with a lot of experience in football and, since he arrived, he has been helping us a lot. Obviously, it is not easy to be Joan (Garcia)’s backup, but we have full confidence in him,” Eric Garcia said. “We all make mistakes. I spoke with him. From the first control, I knew he was in trouble and we hope it doesn’t happen again,” explained Flick, who maintains great confidence in the Pole.
Tek knows our philosophy and, in the first season, we won the League with him”
Hansi Flick
The same as the Camp Nou whose cheering section, after the error, launched into chants of support: “Szczesny smoker.” They say this support is based on the fact that the Pole has become a social phenomenon for a fanbase that applauds his spontaneity and closeness. “And the score invited it: Barça was winning 4-2 and the thrashing ended 7-2,” they say at the club. “When you look back, especially in the first season, we won the League with him and he was responsible for it. He has experience,” Flick added, justifying his decision to keep Livakovic on the bench: “Tek knows our philosophy. Dominik has just arrived, he is adapting to our style.”
Livakovic has just arrived, he is adapting to our idea and style”
Hansi Flick
Flick arrives today at the Pizjuán leading what is called within the club the Barça of records. The numbers back him up: 7 wins in the first 7 matches, of which 6 are in the domestic championship (28 goals for and 6 against) and another thrashing, 5-1 against Feyenoord, in the only Champions League match played so far. “We are on another level compared to last season in Sevilla,” said Flick.
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Barcelona fans see the Pole as a spontaneous, natural, and more down-to-earth goalkeeper
We won’t have to wait long to see Joan Garcia again. At the training ground, they estimate he will return after the break, with the visit of Getafe on October 10. Last year, however, he was recovering from a meniscus injury in his left knee that kept him away from goal for 12 matches. Szczesny conceded 21 goals during that period and did not keep a single clean sheet.
“It is not very serious, but Joan has to rest,” explained Flick, who today, for greater peace of mind, recovers Cubarsí in defense and will again trust Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, and Adeyemi to go into the international break as leader and with the hope that there are no more setbacks in the form of injuries.
Probable lineups
Sevilla- FC Barcelona, 21h/Movistar
Sevilla: Vlachodimos, Juan Iglesias, Castrín, Sangante, Suazo, Fofana, Agoumé, Miguel Sierra, Kochorashvili, Félix Correia and Robbie Ure
Coach: Luis García Plaza
Barcelona: Szczesny, Koundé, Cubarsí, Christensen, Xavi Espart, Rodri, Pedri, Olmo, Lamine Yamal, Adeyemi and Raphinha
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Coach: Hansi Flick
Referee: Juan Martínez Munuera (Valencian)
VAR Referee: Raúl Martín González (Canarian)
Stadium: Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán
