Barcelona goalkeeper reveals how he was able to stop Mbappe's penalty in El Clasico | Barca Universal

""I study a lot. Before each match, I watch the last 20 penalties taken by the two or three main penalty takers," Szczesny said. "Sometimes you pick up information during their career. Some shoot differently depending on the moment in the match or the score. I try to have as much information as possible," he added. "It was quite obvious, he scored the last penalty against me, taking it like that," he said. "He was in a good moment of confidence; I knew he would choose the same side. Then you have to pray to reach the ball.""

""I disconnect from my emotions on the field; emotions don't help me. After the Clasico, everyone was arguing, and I was thinking, 'Come on, we only lost one game," he said. "I do breathing exercises before every match and at halftime. I don't care if people are looking at me in the locker room. I recommend working on your breathing in extreme conditions, in the cold and the heat," he added."

Wojciech Szczesny saved Kylian Mbappe's penalty at the Santiago Bernabeu, preventing Real Madrid from taking a two-goal lead early in the second half. Szczesny prepares by studying the last 20 penalties of the main takers and tracks how players shoot depending on match situation and score. Szczesny recalled that Mbappe had scored in their previous penalty duel and expected the same placement. Szczesny credits meditation and breathing exercises for enabling emotional control on the field, practicing breathing before matches and at halftime. Szczesny's role as Barcelona's main goalkeeper may be challenged soon by Joan Garcia's potential comeback.

Read at Barca Universal