Spanish Super Cup: why isn’t Marc-André ter Stegen playing for Barcelona against Real Madrid?

To trace back to the last time Marc-André Ter Stegen played for Barcelona this season, one has to go back to 12 November 2023. The German goalkeeper, a constant presence in the Barça goal since his arrival in 2014, has faced a challenging year with injuries. The second captain of the Blaugrana experienced back discomfort during a national team camp in November, leading him to miss the scheduled matches against Turkey and Austria and return to Spain for medical evaluation.

Back surgery keeping Ter Stegen out

Medical results confirmed the worst fears. Far from improving, the pain in his lumbar region intensified, necessitating surgical intervention weeks later. On 8 December, the club announced via social media that the goalkeeper had undergone surgery conducted by Dr. Amélie Léglise at the Sports Clinic Bordeaux Merginac to alleviate these issues.

The back issues Ter Stegen is currently facing are not new. He previously experienced similar problems during the 2014/15 season, his first with Barcelona. While there’s no confirmed return date for Ter Stegen, initial estimates suggested a recovery period of two to three months. With the Champions League round of 16 on the horizon, it is expected that both the player and the medical team will aim to expedite his recovery to be available for these crucial matches. Barcelona’s encounters against Napoli are scheduled for 21 February in Italy and 12 March in Barcelona, though it is still too early to determine if Xavi will have Ter Stegen available by then.

Iñaki Peña, a homegrown solution to Ter Stegen absence

The absence of Ter Stegen has prompted Xavi to rely on the squad’s other goalkeeper: Iñaki Peña. The Alicante-born player, who joined La Masia from Villarreal’s youth system in 2013 and was named the best goalkeeper at the 2011 Torneo de Arona, likely did not anticipate playing so many minutes this season.

However, Ter Stegen’s injury has thrust him into the starting lineup. After spending the 2021/22 season on loan at Galatasaray for more playing time, Peña now has the opportunity to win his first title as a starter at the club where he has grown and developed. Only Real Madrid stand in his way.