After eight months out with injury, Marc-André ter Stegen is set to make his comeback on the pitch. The 33-year-old goalkeeper is expected to be back between the posts against Valladolid.
In mid-September 2025, Marc-André ter Stegen suffered a torn patellar tendon. The result was a months-long battle to make his comeback, which is now imminent. When FC Barcelona take on Real Valladolid on Saturday (9 p.m.), the Mönchengladbach-born player will be back in goal. “Of course, he will return to the starting line-up tomorrow,” Barca coach Hansi Flick announced on Friday. “Now we can end the press conference, right? That was the most important thing.”
Ter Stegen had already celebrated his return to the matchday squad last weekend in the highly emotional Copa del Rey final, but he had to give way to Wojciech Szczesny (35) on the pitch. The Pole had been reactivated after the German national goalkeeper’s injury and had taken over his regular place. At least ter Stegen was allowed to lift the trophy together with his captain’s deputy Ronald Araujo after the 3-2 win over Real Madrid and present it to the fans.
Ter Stegen had already announced that he was “physically fit as never before” and “full of energy.” In theory, he could also be between the posts for the important Champions League semi-final second leg against Inter. However, the Catalans would have to register him retrospectively and drop Szczesny, which is not planned as things stand. Ter Stegen had to watch the fast-paced first leg (3-3) from the stands.
His comeback is also likely to be important news for national coach Julian Nagelsmann. The German national team will play the Nations League semi-final against Portugal in Munich on June 4. On June 8 (third-place play-off in Stuttgart or final in Munich), they will face Spain or France.
Nagelsmann had named ter Stegen as the number one goalkeeper following Manuel Neuer’s departure from the DFB squad. In his absence, he was most recently replaced by Oliver Baumann and Alexander Nübel.
