FC Barcelona Announces Major Injury Absence for Atletico Madrid Showdown

FC Barcelona faces a huge injury loss as they gear up for their La Liga match against Atletico Madrid on Sunday.

The absence of goalkeeper and de facto captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who has been sidelined since November 12, is a big blow for the team.

Ter Stegen returned prematurely from international duty with Germany due to a back injury, which kept him out of last Saturday’s draw with Rayo Vallecano and a Champions League victory over Porto.

Inaki Pena has filled in for Ter Stegen and received praise from head coach Xavi Hernandez for his performances.

Despite the Champions League absence, FC Barcelona now shifts focus back to defending their La Liga crown, where they currently sit in fourth place. Their upcoming fixtures against Atletico Madrid and Girona highlight the urgency for a goalkeeper like Ter Stegen.

As the match against Atletico Madrid approaches, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that Ter Stegen might not be available, with reports indicating that he did not train with the group on Saturday.

SPORT reported that Ter Stegen is “almost ruled out” of the high-profile fixture, but MARCA has reported that the club remains “calm” about the situation due to their confidence in Pena.

Pena is seen as a capable replacement, with his performances in Ter Stegen’s absence earning praise. However, Xavi officially confirmed in a press conference that Ter Stegen is indeed ruled out for the upcoming match.