New substitution option for ter Stegen?
©IMAGO
FC Barcelona has maintained its four-point lead over Real Madrid at the top of the Spanish league. In the top game at FC Villarreal, coach Hansi Flick’s team achieved a 2-0 (1-0) win, but the Catalans had to worry about it, especially in the first half. The hosts repeatedly appeared dangerous in front of the Barça goal, but were unable to take advantage of even their best chances.
Raphinha scored for the guests with a penalty kick in the 12th minute and Lamine Yamal in the 63rd minute. From the 39th minute, Barcelona played in the majority after Villarreal’s Renato Veiga committed a nasty foul on Lamine Yamal on the halfway line and was rightly shown a red card.
At Barça, Joan Garcia returned to goal after German national goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen was given a chance to play in the cup during the week. Ter Stegen played for Barcelona for the first time since May 18th in the arduous 2-0 (0-0) draw at third division club CD Guadalajara after recovering from a back injury. Coach Flick had made it clear several times that Garcia would remain his regular goalkeeper.
This means that the future of ex-Gladbacher ter Stegen remains uncertain. He needs match practice in order to be number one in goal for the national team at the World Cup next summer (June 11th to July 19th). According to “Mundo Deportivo”, FC Girona is a possible destination to inherit Dominik Livakovic (30), who is probably willing to change.