Szczesny blocks Mbappe's penalty, Barca escapes defeat
El Clasico at the Bernabeu turned around in the 52nd minute: Szczesny saved Mbappe's penalty, made 9 saves, prevented 2.34 xGOT and received a 9.0 MOTM despite Barcelona's defeat.
The key moment of El Clasico came in the 52nd minute. With Real Madrid leading 2-1 and with a chance to seal the game after Eric Garcia’s handball penalty, Kylian Mbappe – who had opened the scoring – stepped up to take the penalty. But Wojciech Szczesny read the situation, dived to his right and pushed the ball away, keeping Barcelona breathing in the fiery Bernabeu.
A save that changed Barcelona's fortunes
His penalty save not only prevented Real Madrid from increasing their lead, but also kept Barcelona from collapsing in a losing position. Szczesny's composure and reflexes were reminiscent of the 2022 World Cup, when he denied Lionel Messi from taking a penalty, helping Poland progress.
At the Bernabeu, under constant pressure from Mbappe, Vinicius and Jude Bellingham, the 35-year-old goalkeeper remained absolutely focused. He entered and exited appropriately, constantly commanded the defense and made precise decisions in the penalty area – skills honed over many years in Serie A.
Developments and tactical highlights
Real Madrid dominated the tempo and space between the lines, constantly stretching Barcelona’s defense with the speed and intelligent movement of their attacking trio. In that context, Szczesny became the visitors’ most important defensive variable.
His ability as a sweeper – with two runs outside the box – showed that he actively controlled the space behind the defense. His eight ball recoveries, combined with the way he organized his marking and called for cover, helped Barcelona minimize the consequences of Real's high-speed transitions.
Penalty expert
The Mbappe save was no surprise. In his career, Szczesny has faced 96 penalties, successfully saving 21, a rate of 21.8%. The list of strikers he has stopped includes Lionel Messi, Neymar, Gonzalo Higuain, Victor Osimhen – and now Mbappe. What stands out about Szczesny is his reflexes, which are linked to analyzing his opponent’s shooting habits, rather than relying solely on intuition.
Key stats from FotMob
According to FotMob, Szczesny’s influence at the Bernabeu was clearly quantified. He faced a total of nine shots on target, made six saves in the box and nine saves over the 90 minutes. More importantly, he prevented 2.34 expected goals according to xGOT – a metric that reflects the quality of shots on target.
His footwork is also a plus. Szczesny completed 29 of his 32 passes (91%), with three of his six long balls finding their target. Safe runs from the back allowed Barcelona to defuse pressure and push forward during rare breaks.
| Index | Value |
|---|---|
| Save | 9 |
| Save in the penalty area | 6 |
| xGOT prevents | 2.34 |
| Accurate pass | 29/32 (91%) |
| Accurate long pass | 3/6 |
| Ball recovery | 8 |
| The "sweeper goalkeeper" situation | 2 |
Impact and the Big Picture
Barcelona left the Bernabeu in defeat, but Wojciech Szczesny was still voted Man of the Match with a 9.0 rating – proof that a goalkeeper can still shine in a losing team. At 35, he no longer has the mobility he had at Arsenal or Juventus, but his experience and tactical thinking make him a reliable stopper.
In an El Clasico where Barcelona were at a disadvantage, Szczesny’s dive in the 52nd minute was the detail that changed the story. It didn’t change the result, but it was enough to help Barca escape a “disaster” – and affirm the value of the Polish goalkeeper at a time when the team needed it most.
