Both Mundo Deportivo and Sport has recently reported that Barcelona keeper Marca-Andre ter Stegen is pushing hard to make a comeback from injury versus Real Madrid on October 24. It is believed that the German goalie is currently ‘in the final stretch of his recovery’ ahead of the Clasico at the Nou Camp later this month.
Ter Stegen’s Solid Form At Catalonia Last Season
The 28-year-old is currently sidelined with a knee injury which has seen him miss out on the early stages of this campaign. Despite his team’s struggles on the field last season, ter Stegen had another solid season on a personal front as he produced several impressive performances in between the sticks for the Catalan giants.
The German international was involved in 46 matches for Barca in the previous campaign, shipping in 50 goals and securing 17 clean sheets on all fronts. He deserves a little bit of credit for averaging 0.7 clearances and 6.2 long balls in the 2019-20 La Liga season. Ter Stegen even distributed the ball well when playing it out of his penalty area after making 86.4% of his attempted passes in the top tier of Spain (stats via whoscored).
The Monchengladbach-born shot-stopper is currently operating at the peak of his career, so having him back for the upcoming El Clasico would be a welcome bit of news for anyone associated with the Catalan club during this international break.
What Are The German Custodian’s Best Attributes?
Ter Stegen is blessed with excellent reflexes that allow him to pull off some instinctive saves at the back. He is usually great with his positioning and can make a few quick dives to restrict the opposition from scoring. The German goalie is one of the most accurate passers of the ball at the Nou Camp and has also got the aggression to come out of his six-yard area to collect the ball during the opponent’s indirect set-pieces.
Ter Stegen Eyeing A Comeback Vs Real Madrid: Big Boost For Ronald Koeman?
Ter Stegen has proven his worth as one of Europe’s best goalkeepers in recent seasons, so having someone of his skillset back for the Clasico will be a massive boost for Ronald Koeman when football in Spain resumes after the international break. The former Bundesliga keeper has shown time and again that he can come to his team’s rescue against the bigger teams.
Hence, ter Stegen could potentially put in another outstanding display when Zinedine Zidane’s men visit the Nou Camp on October 24. At 28, he still has plenty of football left in his locker, so Barca will be fortunate to have him back ahead of what could be a significant period of this La Liga campaign.
