Ter Stegen out of Espanyol clash, doubtful for Super Cup

Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images

The goalkeeper has a knee injury

Barcelona will be without first-choice goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen against Espanyol and probably for the Spanish Super Cup too.

The club confirmed earlier in the week that the Germany international has a knee problem and Ernesto Valverde offered an update in Friday’s press conference.

Valverde: "Marc ter Stegen won’t play against Espanyol and probably won’t be ready for the Spanish Super Cup." #EspanyolBarça pic.twitter.com/dCI1KVRefk

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 3, 2020

Ter Stegen’s injury means that Neto will play in goal for Barcelona against Espanyol on Saturday when the champions return to La Liga action.

Barcelona then head to Saudi Arabia for the Spanish Super Cup. They play Atletico Madrid on Thursday with Neto likely to continue between the sticks.

There have been rumours that Ter Stegen may need to undergo surgery to fix the problem, but Valverde played that down and said “we haven’t reached that extreme just yet.”

Source: barcablaugranes.com