With the game against FC Porto only a matter of hours away, FC Barcelona released the squad list of players for the clash a while ago.
And, there was a glaring absence on the list as first-choice goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen had not sufficiently recovered from his lower back pain to make the cut.
The 31-year-old suffered the back issue during the recent international break and sat out the Rayo Vallecano clash last weekend as well.
Ter Stegen tried to make himself available
On Monday, it was suggested that Ter Stegen would be willing to take a painkiller injection to play against Porto, but Barcelona have decided not to go down that road.
SPORT’s Toni Juanmarti is reporting that Ter Stegen spent more than three hours at the Ciutat Esportiva today undergoing treatment and testing himself to see if he was fit to compete against the Portuguese champions.
But in the end, everyone agreed to not take any risk with the goalkeeper as he was not 100% ready.
Objective Atletico Madrid
The report further adds that Ter Stegen is now targeting a return against Atletico Madrid later this week at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.
Barça take on Atleti in a crunch tie, with both teams locked on 31 points and occupying the fourth and third places, respectively.
It will be a huge game for both sides in the context of the league title race and as such, Ter Stegen will be eager to be ready and make himself available for when Diego Simeone & co. come visiting.
For today, Xavi will once again count on Inaki Pena in goal to get the job done, in what will be the youngster’s biggest test so far in his career.
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