With Barcelona set to take on Rayo Vallecano in a couple of days, it appears that they might have to go into the game without one of their permanent fixtures in the team.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen suffered a back issue last week while away with the German national team and returned to the club without playing a game for Die Mannschaft.
Ter Stegen’s injury was not said to be serious and it was expected that he would be ready to face Rayo Vallecano on Saturday afternoon.
Ter Stegen still doing individual work
Since returning to Barcelona, Ter Stegen had not trained with the rest of the group all week long.
It was suggested that much will depend on Thursday’s training session and how the goalkeeper fares through it.
But, as per the latest update from Gerard Romero, Ter Stegen is not training with the team yet again today and is still doing individual work.
As such, the 31-year-old’s availability for Saturday’s clash against Rayo Vallecano remains under a huge cloud of doubt.
Ter Stegen has been a permanent fixture between the sticks for Barcelona and has been one of the team’s best players over the past season and a half.
His potential absence, thus, could come as a concern, although it would be understandable if the Blaugrana do not wish to take any risks with him, considering that crucial fixtures against FC Porto and Atletico Madrid are coming up next week.
Inaki Pena to start?
In case Ter Stegen is not deemed fit enough to play against Rayo Vallecano, which seems likely at this point, Inaki Pena will be asked to step into the starting XI.
The 24-year-old La Masia graduate has not played a single game so far this season, given Ter Stegen’s spectacular form and will be eager to make the most of the opportunity if he does get one this weekend.
