DFB goalkeeper
Comeback at Barca – Ter Stegen shows his class
12/17/2025 – 12:00 a.mReading time: 2 minutes
The German played his last competitive game for the Catalans more than six months ago. During his comeback, Ter Stegen has nothing to do for a long time, then he shows his class.
The German national soccer goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen secured a narrow cup victory in his starting eleven comeback at FC Barcelona after more than half a year. After recovering from a back injury, coach Hansi Flick called the 33-year-old into Barça’s starting lineup in the arduous 2-0 (0-0) draw at third division club CD Guadalajara.
Ex-Bundesliga professional Andreas Christensen (76th minute) headed the Catalans into the lead late in the third round. Shortly afterwards, Ter Stegen, who had little to do for a long time, was there twice and made strong saves. Marcus Rashford decided the game (90th).
The future of the German keeper remains unclear. Before the game, Flick emphasized again that Joan Garcia, who got a break in the cup, is his regular goalkeeper. Ter Stegen is actually considered the planned number one for the German national team for the World Cup next summer (June 11th to July 19th). To do this, he has to gain match practice, as national coach Julian Nagelsmann repeatedly emphasized.
“Marc either has to assert himself in Barcelona or find a club where he can play,” Nagelsmann explained recently. His representative in the DFB team, Oliver Baumann, has been convincing in recent months. A possible comeback by Manuel Neuer has been debated again and again, at least in the media.
According to media reports, the financially troubled Spanish champions want to get rid of Ter Stegen in order to save his million-dollar salary. Whether the ex-Mönchengladbacher leaves the club in the winter is his decision, emphasized Flick.
The 33-year-old last played for Barça on May 18th in the game against Villarreal FC. The goalkeeper then played for Germany in the Final Four of the Nations League before he had to have back surgery in preparation. He had already been out for a long time last season due to a torn patellar tendon.