Inaki Pena is keen to seize his chance to impress in the Barcelona first team in the coming weeks.
Pena was called into the Barcelona starting XI for the first time this season as Xavi’s side were held to a 1-1 draw away at Rayo Vallecano.
The 24-year-old was unable to keep a clean sheet in Vallecas but he produced a solid overall performance despite his lack of match action in 2023/24.
Xavi’s decision to leave Ter Stegen out was based as a precaution over his recovery, but he is yet to provide an update on his fitness, ahead of a midweek Champions League clash with Porto.
With Barcelona only needing a point against Porto, Xavi could look to keep faith with Pena, to ensure Ter Stegen is not rushed back, and the Alicante-born stopper is ready for the challenge.
“I am very happy to be able to add minutes this season. I am ready to play and I will wait to see what the manager decides”, as per reports from Mundo Deportivo.
solid ? sorry but i don’t know what match you were watching inaki pena needs to be playing regularly like he was at galatasaray on loan where he looked decent and unfortunately that is not going to happen while ter stegen is still at the club,having actually watched the match yesterday inaki pena was rusty as hell imo fumbling and spilling easy shots he should easily have been holding or gathering and was also partly at fault for rayos goal failing miserably to react quickly enough to the second shot which was the goal,its very strange aswel because gks practice this all the time in training making one save then getting back up as quick as they can to be ready to save the next shot something inaki failed miserably to do yesterday as i said,anyways i dont put all the blame on him though as like i say barca hardly ever use him so hes never going to be able to build confidence and experience plus the rayo scorer should have been closed down quicker and better by the barca defence before it got through and into the net.