Barça's big signing! Ter Stegen will play against Valladolid after seven months out

Marc-André ter Stegen will return to the starting lineup this Saturday in the match against Real Valladolid, corresponding to matchday 34 of LaLiga. This was confirmed by Hansi Flick in the press conference prior to the match, clearing up any doubts and highlighting the goalkeeper's good level in recent training sessions.

FC Barcelona recovers one of its fundamental pillars

After suffering a complete rupture of the patellar tendon in his right knee on September 22, 2024, during a LaLiga match against Villarreal at the La Cerámica stadium, the German goalkeeper will return to defend the Barça goal after a prolonged absence of 222 days, which is equivalent to just over seven months.

The severity of the injury forced the Barça goalkeeper to undergo surgery shortly after the incident. After the surgery and a rigorous rehabilitation process, Ter Stegen has worked hard to return to his maximum level.

Although initially a recovery period of around eight months was expected, his return will be sooner than expected. This was confirmed by Hansi Flick in the press conference prior to the match against Valladolid:

"Marc will return this Saturday. He is on the right track, his performance in training is fantastic."

The return of one of the captains of the culé team comes at a key moment in the season. FC Barcelona leads LaLiga with 76 points, four more than Real Madrid, with five matchdays remaining.

In addition, the team is in the midst of the semi-finals of the Champions League against Inter Milan and the presence of the German goalkeeper brings experience and security in the final stretch of the campaign.

Iñaki Peña and Szczesny: Alternatives during Ter Stegen's absence

Wojciech Szczesny against Inter Milan in the Champions League

During his absence, FC Barcelona first turned to Iñaki Peña and later signed Wojciech Szczesny as the starting goalkeeper. Although the Polish goalkeeper showed good initial performance, in the last five matches he has conceded 11 goals, which has opened the door for the captain's return.

At 33 years old, Ter Stegen not only brings quality between the posts, but also leadership on and off the field. His return is seen as a boost in morale and competitiveness for the team in a decisive stretch of the season.

Flick himself has highlighted the importance of maintaining concentration in all matches, regardless of the opponent: "You can lose the League on days like this. We have the experience of what happened to us against Leganés, Las Palmas... The League is won throughout a year and we cannot throw away what has been done."

Barça's next challenges

FC Barcelona faces a demanding schedule, with the need to maintain the lead in LaLiga and advance in the Champions League. The recovery of key players like Ter Stegen is essential to face these challenges with guarantees. In addition, the coach has indicated that rotations will be made in the team to manage the physical wear and tear of the squad.

The return of Marc-André ter Stegen to the starting eleven represents positive news for FC Barcelona at a crucial moment in the season. His experience, leadership and quality between the posts will be decisive in the fight for the titles that the team has at stake.