Big Blow To Barcelona's Title Challenege As Ter Stegen To Be Out For Several Months Following Injury

Barcelona seems like a completely renewed team this season as they are completely dominating La Liga. Barcelona have played six games so far this season and have won all six of them spectacularly. The latest of Barcelona's wins came on Sunday when they defeated Villarreal with a score of 5-1 thanks to braces by Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha. With the win on Sunday, Barcelona sits clear at the top of the La Liga table and 4 points ahead of rivals Real Madrid who are currently second. 

Despite Barcelona's massive win against Villarreal, the mood in the dressing room was somber as captain and goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen had to be taken off the pitch on a stretcher due to an injury. It has now been confirmed that Ter Stegen will be out for several months due to this. 

Big Blow To Barcelona As Ter Stegen Injured

Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen is facing a long spell on the sidelines after his club said Monday that he sustained a “complete rupture” of a tendon in his right knee that requires surgery. 

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Ter Stegen left the field on a stretcher after getting injured in a 5-1 win over Villarreal in the Spanish league on Sunday.

Ter Stegen’s right knee buckled when he fell awkwardly after going for a high cross into the area just before halftime.

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Barcelona said that surgery on Ter Stegen's knee was planned Monday after tests confirmed “that he has a complete rupture in the patella tendon in his right knee.”

Cause For Worry For The German National Team

The injury comes just as Ter Stegen had been confirmed as the German national team’s No. 1 goalkeeper after years as Manuel Neuer’s backup.

Neuer retired from international soccer after Euro 2024 and coach Julian Nagelsmann said Ter Stegen — who has played 42 games for Germany but none at a major tournament — would be first choice in the future. However, he only played two Nations League games before his injury.

Germany’s most recent squad included backup goalkeepers Alexander Nübel from Stuttgart and Oliver Baumann from Hoffenheim. Neither has played a game for Germany.

(With AP Inputs)