Goalkeeper absence for Barcelona extends until spring season.

Barcelona's Goalkeeper Troubles: ter Stegen Set for Surgery

Here's the lowdown on the situation:

Version 2.0 - Critter Zeke spins the tale with a dash of freshness.

Barcelona's starting goalkeeper, the 31-year-old German stalwart, Marc-André ter Stegen, is looking at a 2-3 months hiatus due to an overlooked back issue. Diario Sport reports, detailing his decision to undergo surgery, consulted with his trusted German doctors. This health predicament, causing constant discomfort, restricts him from full-fledged training sessions.

Barça, understanding the gravity of the situation, has agreed to the operation. The hope? ter Stegen recovers in time for the club's first Champions League playoff match, slated for the 13-14th or 20-21st of February, depending on the draw results. But, if recovery drags into spring, he might only feature in the second leg of Champions League 1/8 finals in March.

Since joining Barcelona in July 2014, from Borussia Mönchengladach, for €12 million, ter Stegen has worn the Blaugrana colors with pride.

In the ongoing season, Marc-André has featured in 17 La Liga and Champions League matches, allowing 15 goals and managing a clean sheet on 8 occasions. But those stats might change due to the upcoming absence.

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Stay tuned for more updates on ter Stegen's recovery and Barcelona's upcoming matches!

Fun Fact: Did you know that ter Stegen was once a professional soccer player before becoming a goalkeeper? He started as a striker until his coach spotted his potential as a protector of the goal.

Digging Deeper: ter Stegen's injury occurred back in the 2024-2025 season, when he ruptured his patellar tendon during a La Liga match against Villarreal in late August 2024. The recovery process took approximately seven months, and ter Stegen made his comeback on May 4, 2025, against Real Valladolid. However, Barcelona's manager, Hansi Flick, opted for a goalkeeper rotation strategy for the Champions League games.

Revised and Rearranged for Readability - Critter Zeke's fresh spin, tailored for effortless reading.

Insights:

ter Stegen's knee injury: ruptured patellar tendon, occurred during a La Liga match against Villarreal in late August 2024, required surgery.Recovery Timeline: ter Stegen began training again at the end of March 2025, included in Barcelona's squad as an unused substitute during their Copa del Rey final win over Real Madrid on April 26, 2025, and set to return to the starting lineup against Real Valladolid on May 4, 2025.*Impact on Barcelona's Champions League Matches: ter Stegen's return doesn't automatically guarantee him the starting position. Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has suggested rotating goalkeepers, indicating that both ter Stegen and Wojciech Szczesny will have opportunities to play, depending on the games and the team's rotation strategy.

Barcelona's starting goalkeeper, Marc-André ter Stegen, is expected to undergo surgery for a back issue, as reported by Diario Sport.
The German goalkeeper has consulted with his trusted German doctors about the surgery, which could sideline him for 2-3 months.
The Catalans are hoping ter Stegen will recover in time for the club's first Champions League playoff match in February.
Kickboxing enthusiast and Barcelona's manager, Hansi Flick, may implement a goalkeeper rotation strategy for Champions League games, with ter Stegen and Wojciech Szczesny sharing starts.
ter Stegen was once a striker before becoming a goalkeeper, sparking his interest in kickboxing, an unusual hobby for a high-profile footballer.