Can Wojciech Szczesny play in the UEFA Champions League for Barcelona? | OneFootball

According to a recent report from SPORT, Wojciech Szczesny, who is expected to join Barcelona soon, would be able to feature for the Blaugrana in the UEFA Champions League despite the club having already submitted their squad.

It is no secret that the Polish goalkeeper is on the verge of completing his move to Barcelona, with his medical scheduled for Monday, 30 September.

The anticipation around his arrival is growing, especially among Barcelona fans who are keen to know if he will be eligible to play in the upcoming UEFA Champions League matches.

This is an important question since Barcelona have already listed their squad for the group stage of the competition.

Currently, the club has registered four goalkeepers for the tournament: Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Inaki Pena, Ander Astralaga, and Diego Kochen. However, only Ter Stegen and Pena are included in the main ‘A list’, which means there is some flexibility in case of unexpected issues.

How can Szczesny still feature?

Wojciech Szczesny would be able to play in the UEFA Champions League. (Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images)

Fortunately for Barcelona, UEFA’s regulations provide a solution. If a club loses both goalkeepers from their ‘A list’ due to a long-term injury or illness, they are allowed to register a replacement at any time during the season.

“If a club is unable to count on the services of at least two goalkeepers registered on List A due to long-term injury or illness, the club in question may temporarily replace the goalkeeper in question and register a new goalkeeper at any time during the season and fill the position,” reads a statement from UEFA.

Ter Stegen’s injury, which is expected to keep him out for the rest of the season, has left Barcelona with only one goalkeeper on the A list.

Given this situation, Szczesny could take the spot left by the injured Ter Stegen, ensuring Barcelona remains competitive in the Champions League.