Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen will undergo surgery after sustaining an injury during the team’s 5-1 victory over Villarreal in La Liga on Sunday. He was taken off the field on a stretcher during the match.
According to a recent release from FC Barcelona, the German goalkeeper suffered a complete rupture of the patella tendon in his right knee. The club confirmed this on X, stating, “Tests carried out on Marc ter Stegen confirm that he has a complete rupture in the patella tendon in his right knee. On Monday afternoon, he will undergo surgery, and a new update will be released afterward.”
Injury on the field for Ter Stegen
The injury occurred in the 44th minute when ter Stegen jumped to collect a corner kick but landed awkwardly on his right leg. He appeared visibly distressed as he left the pitch, replaced by No. 13 Inaki Pena, who performed well for the remainder of the match.
Most experienced player in the squad
Ter Stegen is currently the most experienced player in the squad. The German joined the Catalonian club in the 2014-2015 season, the same season when Barcelona won the treble. He has made 420 appearances for FCB.
Coach’s Reaction to Ter Stegen’s Injury
Head coach Hansi Flick expressed his disappointment about the injury, stating, “This injury makes us sad…it will be huge, but we will have to wait.” When asked about the possibility of signing a new goalkeeper, Flick replied, “I don’t want to talk about it right after the match. Marc is our captain and a very important player for us and the German national team.”
Replacement for Ter Stegen
Inaki Pena is set to replace Marc-André ter Stegen as Barcelona’s first-choice goalkeeper for now. However, questions persist about his ability to lead Barcelona’s title challenge, given his stats from last season’s trophyless campaign under Xavi Hernandez.
Barcelona will next face Getafe in their upcoming La Liga fixture, hoping to continue their strong performance despite this setback.
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