Barcelona’s perfect start to the La Liga season was marred by a serious injury to goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen during their 5-1 victory over Villarreal on Sunday. The German shot-stopper sustained the injury just before halftime after landing awkwardly following a jump for the ball. His right leg, which has previously undergone two surgeries, appeared to bear the brunt of the impact, raising concerns about a potential season-ending injury.
Coach Hansi Flick expressed concern about the severity of Ter Stegen’s injury, stating, “It looks like a serious injury, he felt it, you could see it on the pitch.” However, he declined to speculate about the potential duration of the injury or the possibility of a replacement, stating, “I don’t like this question right after the game. First we have to see what happens with Marc, he’s our captain.”
Ter Stegen’s injury overshadowed Barcelona’s impressive victory, which saw Robert Lewandowski score twice in the first half to put the team in control. The match was a high-scoring affair with a total of 30 goal attempts, 14 of which were on target.
“This victory is for Ter Stegen. He’s currently in the hospital,” said Lewandowski, acknowledging the significance of Ter Stegen’s absence and expressing support for their injured captain.
While the exact nature and extent of Ter Stegen’s injury are still being assessed, the news casts a shadow over Barcelona’s upcoming matches. The club will need to rely on their backup goalkeeper to maintain their strong start in La Liga, while hoping for a speedy recovery for their injured captain.
