Barcelona continued their impressive start to the La Liga season with a resounding 5-1 victory over Villarreal on Sunday. However, the celebrations were dampened by a serious knee injury to goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, casting a shadow over the team’s momentum.
Ter Stegen’s injury occurred just before halftime when he landed awkwardly after attempting to reach a ball crossed into the penalty area. The German international immediately clutched his right knee and was visibly distressed. Medical staff rushed to his aid, and he was eventually stretchered off the pitch. Barcelona president Joan Laporta revealed that the injury appeared to be a torn ligament but confirmed that further tests would be conducted to determine the full extent of the damage. Local media reports stated that Ter Stegen was transported to the hospital in an ambulance and later left in a wheelchair.
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick expressed his concern and disappointment about the injury, acknowledging its potential severity and the challenges it presents. He stated, “This injury makes us sad. I think the injury will be huge, but we have to wait for more information. We have to accept it. It’s not easy. It was an accident. It’s very tough.”
Fellow goalkeepers also showed their support for the injured Ter Stegen. Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois, who missed a significant portion of last season due to a similar injury, expressed his concern on X, saying, “It hurts to see you go off like that. Hope you recover soon.”
The injury adds to Barcelona’s growing list of absentees, as they are already missing key players like Dani Olmo, Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, and Ronald Araujo, among others. Despite the setback, Barcelona’s attack proved unstoppable in the match against Villarreal. Robert Lewandowski scored a brace in the first half, followed by two goals from Raphinha after the break. Pablo Torre also contributed a goal for the Catalan club. Lewandowski now has an impressive six goals in six matches, leading the La Liga scoring charts.
Ayoze Pérez scored the only goal for the hosts in the 38th minute, but it was merely a consolation as Villarreal were already trailing 2-0 at that point. Despite the loss, Villarreal entered the round in fourth place, four points behind Barcelona.
Barcelona’s dominant performance extended their winning streak to six matches, and they now sit at the top of the table with an impressive 22-5 goal difference. They hold a four-point lead over Real Madrid, who defeated Espanyol 4-1 on Saturday. Atlético Madrid missed a chance to close the gap with Barcelona after a 1-1 draw against city rivals Rayo Vallecano.
The injury to Ter Stegen is undoubtedly a significant blow for Barcelona, especially given their already depleted squad. As the club awaits further medical updates on their star goalkeeper, it will be interesting to see how they navigate the challenges ahead and whether they can maintain their current form in the coming weeks.
