Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen faces an extended street to restoration after present process profitable surgical procedure to restore a ruptured patella tendon in his proper knee, the membership confirmed on Monday.
The 32-year-old, a mainstay in purpose for each Barcelona and Germany, was injured throughout Barca’s emphatic 5-1 victory over Villarreal on Sunday.
Ter Stegen’s harm, which occurred simply earlier than halftime, noticed him fall awkwardly after leaping for a ball, leaving him writhing in ache as medics rushed him off the sphere on a stretcher.
The knee that buckled underneath him had already undergone two surgical procedures through the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons, elevating considerations over the extent of the injury this time.
Spanish media have reported that Ter Stegen is anticipated to be sidelined for not less than eight months, a blow to Barcelona’s season and Germany’s nationwide crew.
His absence leaves a gaping gap because the Catalan giants navigate a troublesome schedule, together with a Champions League showdown with Bayern Munich and a La Liga conflict in opposition to rivals Real Madrid.
Barcelona launched an announcement confirming the surgical procedure was carried out by Dr. Joan Carles Monllau at Barcelona Hospital, with the membership’s medical employees overseeing the process.
“Ter Stegen has undergone a successful surgical intervention on the patella tendon injury in his right knee,” the assertion learn.
The duty of stepping up falls to 25-year-old backup keeper Inaki Pena.
A product of Barca’s famed La Masia academy, Pena is not any stranger to filling in for the German veteran.
Last season, Pena made 17 first-team appearances when Ter Stegen was out with an analogous knee challenge, delivering blended outcomes.
While he initially impressed with standout performances, together with an important 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid and a 2-1 triumph in opposition to Porto, his type dipped, conceding 31 targets throughout the following 15 matches and managing simply two clear sheets.
Despite the stress, Pena now faces the daunting activity of defending Barcelona’s purpose as they push for fulfillment on a number of fronts.
All eyes shall be on him as he takes up the gloves in opposition to European heavyweights Bayern and La Liga champions Real Madrid.
Meanwhile, Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann expressed his shock over Ter Stegen’s harm. “The news of Marc’s injury was a big shock for us,” Nagelsmann informed the German FA web site.
Having just lately misplaced veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to worldwide retirement, Nagelsmann now faces the problem of discovering a brand new No. 1.
“We will miss him a lot on and off the pitch,” Nagelsmann mentioned. “We wish Marc all the best … we will always be there for him on his way back.”
Germany’s goalkeeping choices at the moment are thinning.
Nagelsmann had already known as up two uncapped keepers, Oliver Baumann of TSG Hoffenheim and Alexander Nubel of VfB Stuttgart, as back-ups in latest Nations League matches in opposition to Hungary and the Netherlands.
Fulham’s Bernd Leno, who has 9 caps, was included within the squad earlier this yr however didn’t characteristic within the video games.
Germany, at the moment atop their Nations League group with 4 factors, will face Bosnia and the Netherlands in October, however the absence of their two most skilled goalkeepers casts a shadow over their marketing campaign.
Source: www.dailysabah.com