Hey, kiddo, catch a flight and come back - we need a backup goalie!
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Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 28.09.25. | 14:46
Young Barca's keeper Diego Kochen had to return urgently from the U-20 World Cup held in Chile, where he was with the USA national team, to be Wojciech Szczesny's understudy today against Real Sociedad (19.30)
When Barcelona comes calling, one cannot stay indifferent, and the young Barca B custodian Diego Kochen experienced it firsthand!
The 19-year-old had travelled to Chile with the USA national team, where he was supposed to represent his country at the FIFA U-20 World Cup. However, just two days before his team's first match in the tournament against New Caledonia, Kochen was called to return to Spain urgently!
🚨🎖| 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆: Barcelona have RECALLED Diego Kochen from the U20 World Cup to serve as Szczesny’s backup. The American goalkeeper will return from Chile, where the tournament was set to begin on Sunday. [@mundodeportivo] #fcblive 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/w35n0uDaHm
— BarçaTimes (@BarcaTimes) September 26, 2025
Hansi Flick's first-choice custodian, Joan Garcia, whom Barca brought from Espanyol for €25 million in the previous transfer window, tore the medial meniscus in his left knee. The Spaniard underwent surgery this morning and will be sidelined for 4-6 weeks, leaving Wojciech Szczesny as the primary option in Barca's goal.
Given that Marc-Andre ter Stegen will be unavailable until December due to a back injury, the Catalans had to react quickly and urge Kochen to return from Chile to be Szczesny's understudy today against Real Sociedad (19.30).
Truth be told, Flick had another Barcelona B keeper, Eder Aller, at his disposal, though the 18-year-old seriously lacks experience and is far from Kochen's level.
Hence, the American is expected to arrive in time to sit on the bench at Estadi de Montjuic this afternoon, and even though he probably won't debut for Barca's first team, he'll remember this "whirlwind" for the rest of his life.
LA LIGA - MATCHDAY 7
Friday
Girona - Espanyol 0-0
Saturday
Atl.Madrid - Real Madrid 5-2 (2-2)
/Le Normand 14, Sorloth 45+3, Alvarez 51 (p), 63, Griezmann 90+3 - Mbappe 25, Guler 36/
Mallorca - Alaves 1-0 (1-0)
/Asano 37/
Villarreal - Athletic Bilbao 1-0 (0-0)
/Moleiro 77/
Sunday
15.00: (2.15) Rayo Vallecano (3.45) Sevilla (3.70)
17.15: (2.85) Elche (3.15) Celta (2.60)
19.30: (1.28) Barcelona (6.00) Sociedad (9.50)
22.00: (1.80) Betis (3.75) Osasuna (4.85)
Monday
22.00: (1.70) Valencia (3.60) Oviedo (5.40)
***odds are subject to change***
