Barcelona have confirmed that goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen will undergo surgery on his back injury.
Ter Stegen has missed Barcelona’s last few games because of the problem and was hoping to avoid surgery, but the decision has now been made to send the German shot stopper under the knife.
As a result, Ter Stegen is now expected to miss at least two months of action, with any prolonged absence putting his involvement in the Champions League knockout stages at risk.
The round of 16 gets underway on February 13, 2024, giving Ter Stegen three months to get back to his best in time.
In his absence, Xavi will continue to put his faith in 24-year-old Inaki Pena, who has started the last three games and caught the eye in the recent 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid.
“Inaki Pena is such an example,” Xavi said after the last game. “He trains hard and that’s why he performs the way he does. He gets ten out of ten for some extraordinary saves.”
Pena signed a new three-year contract at Camp Nou during the summer, with Barcelona opting to keep their faith in the 24-year-old and bid farewell to Arnau Tenas, who left to join Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer.
He will continue his run in the team when Barcelona face high-flying Girona on Sunday and will play at least eight La Liga games if Ter Stegen is sidelined for two months.
Xavi’s side head into the game four points behind Girona and league leaders Real Madrid.
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