Barcelona's Ter Stegen Back in Action After Seven-Month Absence

Barcelona's Marc-André ter Stegen is set to return after a seven-month absence, but coach Hansi Flick hints Wojciech Szczesny may remain the first-choice goalkeeper.

Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen is set to return to action after a seven-month absence due to knee surgery. Ter Stegen, who suffered a tendon tear below his right kneecap in September, will start in Saturday's LaLiga match against Real Valladolid. Despite Ter Stegen's return, coach Hansi Flick is expected to keep Wojciech Szczesny as the first-choice goalkeeper, following Szczesny's impressive performances since joining the club in October after coming out of retirement.

Barcelona's captain Marc-André ter Stegen is set to return to the team, providing a significant boost ahead of crucial matches. “He is well, Marc ter Stegen will be back tomorrow,” manager Flick confirmed with a smile. Flick added that Ter Stegen has been training well and is ready to play at the current level. When asked about Ter Stegen's role for the rest of the season, Flick said, “I'm not thinking about changing anything until the end of the season. But it can change; after Valladolid, we will see what happens.” This development will also give backup goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny a chance to rest.

Captain Marc ✍️ pic.twitter.com/1Glr7RNXQn

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) May 3, 2025

Barcelona faces a tight turnaround ahead of Saturday's match against already-relegated Valladolid, who sit bottom of the table. Despite the manageable opponent on paper, coach Hansi Flick emphasized the need for the same level of intensity as seen in Wednesday's Champions League clash against Inter Milan, saying, “The attitude should be the same level as Wednesday's Champions League clash against Inter Milan.” This comes after Barcelona thrashed Valladolid 7-0 in August and now face a team with just four wins and the league's worst defensive record, having conceded 81 goals in 33 games. The match is a key opportunity for Barcelona to maintain their four-point lead over Real Madrid with five games left, including a Clasico at home.

“It doesn't matter where (Valladolid) are playing next season, they are right now playing in LaLiga and we respect them. Also, you can lose the title from these matches.”

“In the first part of the season, losses against Leganes and Las Palmas (held us back), we suffered so the team know how important this match is.”