Foot & Soccer Soccer Match Reports, Football News
Inaki Pena’s rise to cementing his place in Barcelona’s first workforce has not come as a shock to many, particularly given his regular performances and Hansi Flick’s belief in him.
Even with the addition of skilled goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, Pena’s continued presence within the beginning lineup has been a optimistic end result for each him and the workforce.
Curiously, Pena’s statistics present a marked enchancment in comparison with the earlier one. Whereas holding a clear sheet stays a problem, his total numbers have seen important progress.
Pena’s statistics from final season
To place issues in perspective, this season, he has began in the identical variety of matches as final season, 17 throughout all competitions, however has conceded 12 fewer objectives.
Within the 2023-24 season, Pena performed for a complete of 1,560 minutes, whereas this season he has logged 1,530 minutes. Final season, he allowed 32 objectives and stored simply three clear sheets, considered one of which got here in a memorable victory over Atletico Madrid.
That sport was significantly important as Pena produced a powerful efficiency that helped safe an important 1-0 win for the workforce.
Inaki Pena has improved so much this season. (Photograph by David Ramos/Getty Pictures)
Regardless of a number of robust defeats final yr, together with heavy losses to Girona, Actual Madrid within the Spanish Tremendous Cup closing, and Athletic Membership within the Copa del Rey quarter-finals, Pena has proven resilience.
Turning level
A key turning level for Pena got here on the finish of September when Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s damage opened the door for him to develop into the first-choice goalkeeper. Since then, his performances have improved considerably.
Within the present season, he has conceded 20 objectives, 12 fewer than within the earlier marketing campaign, regardless of beginning the identical variety of video games and virtually enjoying the identical quantity of minutes.
He has additionally managed to hold a clear sheet on six events, along with his newest shutout coming in a Champions League match towards Brest. Moreover, one notable enchancment this season is the shortage of heavy defeats.
Other than the 4-2 loss to Osasuna, which marked Barcelona’s first La Liga defeat of the season, Pena has stored the scorelines extra manageable, with not more than two objectives conceded in most matches.
This regular progress has proven that Pena is rising into his position and turning into a extra dependable determine in Barcelona’s aim.
