Barcelona coach Hansi Flick confirms that goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen will make his first appearance since September against Real Valladolid on Saturday following recovery from a severe knee injury
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has announced that first-choice goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen will start in the La Liga match against Real Valladolid on Saturday.
This will be the 33-year-old German international’s first appearance for the Catalan giants since September, following a significant recovery from a severe knee injury.
Ter Stegen underwent surgery after rupturing the patella tendon in his right knee during a match against Villarreal earlier in the season.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Flick confirmed the goalkeeper’s readiness, stating, “Marc is on the right track, at a good level. He has been training fantastically well for some time.”
Although Ter Stegen was part of the squad that triumphed over Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final on April 26, he remained an unused substitute.
His return to the starting lineup will see him replace Wojciech Szczesny, who temporarily came out of retirement to join Barcelona as cover after Ter Stegen’s injury.
Flick indicated that the change in goalkeepers is part of managing player freshness as Barcelona continues to compete for a potential quadruple.
Szczesny is expected to return to the goal for the crucial Champions League semi-final second leg away against Inter Milan on Tuesday, following a 3-3 draw in the first leg in Spain.
However, Flick was less clear regarding the availability of their top goalscorer, Robert Lewandowski, who missed the first leg against Inter due to a hamstring issue.
Barcelona currently holds a four-point lead over their rivals Real Madrid in La Liga with five matches remaining in the season.
Their upcoming opponents, Real Valladolid, are currently at the bottom of the league table and facing likely relegation.
