Barcelona’s first-choice goalkeeper, Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, is staring at a potentially season-ending injury after suffering a serious knee issue during his team’s emphatic 5-1 win over Villarreal in La Liga on Sunday.
Marc-Andre Ter Stegen was visibly emotional as he was stretchered off the pitch after landing awkwardly during a routine corner claim in the first half. The 32-year-old’s distress was clear as teammates immediately signaled for medical assistance.
Following the incident, Marc-Andre Ter Stegen was rushed to a nearby hospital for further assessments, with early reports indicating the injury could keep him sidelined for up to eight months. This would rule the German out for the rest of the 2024-25 season, a significant blow to both Barcelona and the player himself, who has been instrumental in their perfect start to the campaign, winning all six of their La Liga matches so far.
Despite the comfortable victory, which saw two goals each from Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha, as well as a strike from Pablo Torre, Ter Stegen’s injury cast a shadow over the triumph. Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick shared his concerns post-match, hinting at the severity of the situation.
“It doesn’t look good for Marc,” Flick admitted. “We have to wait to know the full diagnosis of the injury, but it’s true it does appear to be really serious. This injury makes us sad. I think the injury will be huge, but we have to wait for more information.” (Quoted as saying by Goal.com)
Mounting Injury Concerns for Barcelona amid Marc-Andre Ter Stegen incident
The loss of Marc-Andre Ter Stegen adds to Barcelona’s growing injury woes. The goalkeeper joins an already extensive list of sidelined players, which includes key defenders Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen, along with Marc Bernal, Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, Fermin Lopez, and Dani Olmo. The piling injuries are a concern for the Catalan club, as they look to maintain their early-season momentum amid these setbacks.
Inaki Pena to Step Up
With Marc-Andre Ter Stegen potentially out for the remainder of the season, Barcelona will now turn to backup goalkeeper Inaki Pena. The 24-year-old has found himself in this position before, stepping in for Ter Stegen during injury spells last season. Pena is expected to start when Barcelona host Getafe on Wednesday.
Barcelona’s impressive form continues, but Ter Stegen’s absence will be a significant hurdle. As they look to keep pace in the La Liga title race, the club will hope that Pena and the rest of the squad can fill the void left by their talismanic goalkeeper.
