Barcelona’s Ter Stegen Back to Full Fitness, But Szczesny Expected to Retain Starting Position

Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen is set to return to the pitch for Saturday’s LaLiga encounter against Real Valladolid, marking the end of a seven-month absence following knee surgery, as confirmed by coach Hansi Flick.

The 33-year-old sustained a complete tear of a tendon beneath his right kneecap in September and underwent surgery shortly thereafter. During his time on the sidelines, Barcelona called upon Polish keeper Wojciech Szczesny, who came out of retirement in October to join the team as a free agent.

Ter Stegen’s return is a significant boost for Barcelona, who currently lead LaLiga with 76 points, four points clear of reigning champions Real Madrid, with five matches left in the season, including an upcoming Clasico at home following the Valladolid match.

“Marc is doing well, and he will be back tomorrow,” Flick shared with reporters on Friday, beaming with enthusiasm. “It’ll also be beneficial for Szczesny to get some rest. Marc has been training excellently and is ready to perform at this level.

When asked if Ter Stegen would take up the goalkeeping duties for the rest of the season, Flick replied: “I’m not considering making any changes until the end of the season. However, things can shift; we’ll see what unfolds after the Valladolid match.”

Barcelona will have less than 72 hours to regroup before Saturday’s fixture, which appears straightforward on paper, given that bottom-placed Valladolid was relegated from LaLiga last week.

Flick’s team convincingly defeated Valladolid 7-0 in August and now faces a side that has only managed four wins this season and holds the league’s poorest defensive record, having conceded a whopping 81 goals in 33 matches.

“Our mentality must match that of Wednesday’s thrilling Champions League clash against Inter Milan,” Flick stated, referring to the exhilarating 3-3 draw in the semi-final first leg ahead of the return fixture on Tuesday.

“Regardless of where Valladolid might be playing next season, they’re currently competing in LaLiga and deserve our respect. It’s crucial to remember that titles can be lost in matches like these.”

“Earlier in the season, we faced setbacks against Leganes and Las Palmas, so the team understands the significance of this upcoming match.”