Ter Stegen Set to Return to the Bench Following Comeback

Marc-André ter Stegen, the national goalkeeper for Germany, will be on the bench for FC Barcelona in their upcoming two matches despite a successful return from injury. This announcement was made by coach Hansi Flick following Barcelona’s 2-1 victory over Real Valladolid, the last-placed team in La Liga.

Upcoming Matches

In the next two crucial matches, Ter Stegen will not be the starting goalkeeper. Wojciech Szczęsny will play in goal during the Champions League semifinal return match against Inter Milan on Tuesday, where the first leg ended in a 3-3 draw, as well as in the significant Clásico against Real Madrid on Saturday. „That’s our plan,“ Flick stated.

Background on Szczęsny

Wojciech Szczęsny, who had previously retired from professional football, was signed by FC Barcelona after Ter Stegen suffered a patellar tendon tear in his right knee during a league match against Villarreal on September 22. The 35-year-old former Polish international had officially ended his career last summer.

Performance Review

In the match against already relegated Valladolid, Szczęsny had to make way for Ter Stegen, who is the team’s regular goalkeeper and captain. Ter Stegen was unable to stop a deflected shot in the sixth minute but performed admirably with two key saves. „Ter Stegen has shown how good he is,“ Flick emphasized.

National Team Implications

Following his successful return, Ter Stegen expressed his happiness on Instagram, stating, „+3 points in Valladolid. Happy to be back on the field with the team.“ His comeback is likely a positive development for national coach Julian Nagelsmann, especially as Germany prepares for the Final Four tournament of the Nations League in Munich and Stuttgart in June. Nagelsmann has indicated that he may rely on Ter Stegen as his number one goalkeeper for the 2026 World Cup following Manuel Neuer’s retirement.