Ter Stegen back in the Barça goal: Super coach Flick almost turns his neck

National goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen is back in goal for FC Barcelona after more than eight months of injury. But his comeback begins with a shock. After conceding an early goal, Barça turns the game around and takes the next step toward the league title.

Despite a bad start, national football goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen secured a must-win in his long-awaited comeback with FC Barcelona. In his first appearance after more than eight months off, the 33-year-old and the league leaders prevailed 2-1 (0-1) against bottom-placed Real Valladolid.

Ter Stegen, who suffered a ruptured patellar tendon on September 22, 2024, had no chance of stopping the early goal. A cross from Ivan Sanchez deflected off Barça defender Ronald Araujo, and the ball sailed over ter Stegen into the far corner (5'). Flick initially rested several regular players against the relegated side, with superstar Lamine Yamal starting on the bench, along with Frenkie de Jong, Raphinha, Ferran Torres, and Dani Olmo.

The German super coach made a total of nine changes to his starting eleven compared to the furious 3-3 draw in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Inter Milan during the week. It was an approach that almost backfired. Flick brought on Yamal in the first half for the injured 18-year-old debutant Dani Rodriguez, while Raphinha and de Jong came on at the start of the second half. After the break, Raphinha (54') and Fermin (60') turned the game around.

Ter Stegen made a flawless save on his return after more than seven months out due to injury. The German international goalkeeper, who tore the patellar tendon in his right knee in September, kept his team from conceding further goals with strong saves when the hosts had few clear chances.

This means that defending champions Real Madrid can only move within four points of coach Hansi Flick's team with a win over Celta Vigo on Sunday. This is important, as the two arch-rivals meet again in Barcelona on May 11th in the Clasico. A Barça defeat to Valladolid would have allowed Real Madrid to become champions again on their own. Barcelona recently won the cup final against Los Blancos.

Barcelona thus successfully completed the dress rehearsal for the Champions League semi-final second leg against Inter Milan on Tuesday (9 p.m./Prime Video and in the live ticker on ntv.de) . The first leg in Spain ended 3-3.