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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Barcelona equalised at Benfica after falling behind</li><li>Szczesny error helped hosts regain lead</li><li>Barca fans slammed keeper for atrocious mistake</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

'Mentally on the beach with his wife!' - Wojciech Szczesny told his 'contract will be torn up' after CLATTERING Alejandro Balde in comical mixup leading to Barcelona conceding at Benfica

Copa del Rey

Barcelona

Atletico Madrid

Taca de Portugal

Benfica

Braga

<p>The incident occurred just 21 minutes into the game when a lofted through ball from Benfica defender Nicolas Otamendi caused chaos in Barcelona's defensive ranks. Szczesny rushed out of his goal to clear the danger, only to collide clumsily with Balde, who had intercepted the ball first. The mix-up between gifted Benfica striker Vangelis Pavlidis a golden opportunity and he slotted the ball into an empty net to restore his team’s lead at 2-1.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Defensive disaster for Barcelona at the back as Vangelis Pavlidis pounces to put Benfica back in front in a flash 💥<br><br>📺 <a href="https://twitter.com/tntsports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tntsports</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/discoveryplusUK?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@discoveryplusUK</a> <a href="https://t.co/1Esp5nbASB">pic.twitter.com/1Esp5nbASB</a></p>— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) <a href="https://twitter.com/footballontnt/status/1881800949821313428?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
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WATCH THE CLIP

<p>As if the earlier blunder wasn’t bad enough, Szczesny found himself in trouble again just minutes later. In the 28th minute, the goalkeeper fouled Pavlidis inside the penalty area, leading to another disastrous moment. The striker calmly converted the resulting penalty to complete his hat-trick and extend Benfica’s advantage to 3-1.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Barcelona fans slammed the Polish keeper on X for the costly mishap.</p><p><a href="https://x.com/hazfcb_/status/1881800270327509388" target="_blank">@hazfcb_</a> wrote: "Mentally Szczesny is still on some beach with his wife."</p><p><a href="https://x.com/LyesBouzidi10/status/1881801620499173560" target="_blank">@LyesBouzidi10</a> suggested: "They might terminate Szczesny’s contract at halftime. This is self-sabotage of the highest calibre😭."</p><p><a href="https://x.com/FCB_AH10/status/1881801268890628373" target="_blank">@FCB_AH10</a> added: "People used to complain about Ter Stegen. Hope you‘re happy with Szczesny."</p><p>A shocked <a href="https://x.com/tempocontroller/status/1881800199804473620" target="_blank">@tempocontroller</a> wrote: "Szczesny just ran out to attack balde wtf😭😭."</p><p>While <a href="https://x.com/Ozzytok10/status/1881800197493367215" target="_blank">@Ozzytok10</a> wrote: "Szczesny's given them the cheapest goal you will ever see and nearly injured Balde in the process too 🤦‍♂️."</p><p><a href="https://x.com/NealGardner_/status/1881800274509255122" target="_blank">@NealGardner_</a> wrote: "That was on Szczesny, made absolutely no sense to come out and put himself in that position, so stupid. First the red, now this…"</p>

WHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING

<p>With defensive lapses proving costly, Hansi Flick will need to regroup his squad quickly before hosting Atalanta in their final Champions League group stage encounter on January 29. Before that, the Catalans have a La Liga assignment against Valencia on Sunday.</p>

WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

'Mentally on the beach with his wife!' - Wojciech Szczesny told his 'contract will be torn up' after CLATTERING Alejandro Balde in comical mixup leading to Barcelona conceding at Benfica | Goal.com

Wojciech Szczesny was warned his &quot;contract will be torn up&quot; after clattering with Alejandro Balde in a comical mix up leading to a Benfica goal.

&apos;Mentally on the beach with his wife!&apos; - Wojciech Szczesny told his &apos;contract will be torn up&apos; after CLATTERING Alejandro Balde in comical mixup leading to Barcelona conceding at Benfica

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