Barcelona maintained their unbeaten begin to the La Liga season with a 5-1 victory over Villarreal however it’s a victory that can trigger concern for supervisor Hansi Flick as star keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen was stretchered off in tears earlier than halftime as a consequence of a knee harm. Claiming a nook, he fell awkwardly injuring the identical knee that he had surgical procedure on in 2021. Changed in web by Inaki Pena, Barcelona have been capable of see out the match however ter Stegen is ready to overlook a number of months, based on ESPN.
The German ranked seventh final season in save share amongst keepers to seem in at the least 5 matches at 73.5%. His presence permits Barcelona to push ahead with ease understanding that there’s a regular keeper behind them to cease any probabilities that come his approach. Whereas scoring 22 targets in six matches is nice for Barcelona, they’ve already allowed 5 targets in league play this season and with an xG towards of 6.51, it might’ve been worse.
Throughout preseason, gamers said that Flick emphasizes likelihood creation and might be okay with conceding targets as a consequence of their entrance foot assault. However that is a method that does not work as nicely with out a crew having their finest gamers obtainable. Barcelona’s harm record has grown by the day with Gavi, Marc Bernal, Andreas Christensen, Frenkie de Jong, Ronald Araujo, Dani Olmo, Fermin Lopez and now ter Stegen all sidelined.
Having already dropped their first sport of the Champions League league stage, Barcelona have to show that they are again to being contenders for the La Liga crown and for honors all over the world. Whereas there are younger depth choices at different positions across the pitch, keeper hasn’t been one in all them.
Pena has featured in 13 league matches for Barcelona over the previous few seasons and in 10 apperances final season, however he solely saved two clear sheets. That is a pattern that will not be capable to proceed as matches get harder for Barcelona throughout October. Going through Bayern Munich and having an El Clasico towards Actual Madrid is after we’ll get to see if Barcelona are again however with out ter Stegen, these matches will likely be robust to tug out outcomes out of. That is when Flick might need to shift ways to guard his protection which will likely be one thing to control as Barcelona look to maintain their high-powered assault going.
