Troubling stat reveals how much Barcelona are missing their injured superstar

Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny endured one of his most difficult nights in a Blaugrana shirt during the dramatic Champions League clash against Club Brugge. 

If not for a late VAR intervention in injury time, the Polish shot-stopper could have been the man blamed for what might have been a costly defeat. 

Instead, the match ended in a tense draw, a result that offered little relief given the nature of his performance.

A performance to forget

Throughout the game, Szczesny appeared far from convincing. In all three goals that he conceded, he seemed capable of doing much more. 

As a result, his positioning and reaction times raised concerns. 

To make matters worse, the 35-year-old nearly committed a disastrous error deep into stoppage time. 

After a risky touch, Romeo Vermant dispossessed him and slotted the ball into the net, which initially looked like the winner for Brugge. 

Wojciech Szczesny made a costly error against Club Brugge. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

However, VAR came to Barça’s rescue, spotting a slight but clear contact between Szczesny and the Belgian attacker. The referee, who had first awarded the goal, overturned his decision following the review.

Barcelona are missing Joan Garcia

Replacing Joan Garcia, who is currently recovering from surgery, has proven to be a major challenge for Szczesny. 

This is because statistics paint a worrying picture. He has conceded 15 goals in eight matches, and 31 in total across 16 games. 

While he has shown flashes of quality, consistency has been lacking.

The 35-year-old’s contract was extended to provide stability and experience, yet he has found himself under increasing scrutiny. 

With one more game to go before the break, Szczesny will look to redeem himself. 

The return of Joan Garcia, expected after the international window, could offer a much-needed boost.