A real blow. As feared for several weeks, Marc-André ter Stegen has finally resolved. He had back surgery following chronic lower back pain . It became too much to bear and even risky for the rest of his career. He hopes to return for the round of 16 of the Champions League next February. For FC Barcelona , this is obviously bad news, as the German is decisive in the club's recent successes, starting with this last Liga record: 26 clean sheets in 38 days for 18 goals conceded. Never seen. It was well worth a Zamora trophy for the best goalkeeper of the season.
A goalkeeper can hide another at FC Barcelona. The Blaugranas are learning this the hard way. Without their usual starter since 2016 (ter Stegen was in competition with Claudio Bravo for his first season), the Catalans are forced to trust the official understudy for a year and a half: Iñaki Peña . The one who was trained at the same time as a certain Arnau Tenas and with whom he is still close, finally has a highway in front of him to establish himself in the club of his heart. Obviously, this involves risks but its recent and older experience shows that Barça has what it takes to see it coming. The already 24-year-old goalkeeper is probably playing the most important matches of his career.
“A hero named Iñaki Peña”
His performance against Atlético de Madrid reassured everyone (1-0). Very concentrated in his interventions and his ball catches, Peña above all saved the three points of victory by going to get this free kick from Depay in his top corner, then by repelling this last opportunity from Correa, all in the final minutes of the match. It was the first time he managed to preserve his goal in an important match. “Iñaki dispelled all doubts about him. In three matches, he made people forget that ter Stegen was unavailable. The Culers sleep peacefully after seeing his performance ,” Sport wrote in an article titled “A hero named Iñaki Peña . ” We now have to put this back on track.
This is good because this Sunday (9 p.m.), Barça has a meeting with Girona for a shock not really expected at the start of the season. However, it is indeed the little neighbor which is 2nd in the standings, 4 points ahead of Barcelona (3rd) . Even if the season is still long, a victory for Blanquivermells would undermine the ambitions of the reigning champion. A certain pressure that the native of Alicante seems able to absorb, he who has already experienced the hot Turkish atmospheres during his loan to Galatasaray a year and a half ago (8 matches in six months). He had also been good during Muslera's absence, before giving way to the Uruguayan when he returned from injury.
A pressure-impermeable shell
“Iñaki was already a reliable goalkeeper, with a very good foot and sober in goal ,” confirms one of his trainers to Sport , José Bermúdez. It was nothing spectacular, but was very effective. Above all, I was impressed by the same thing that continues to amaze me today: his ability to manage emotions. How he is able to achieve great performances in stressful or pressured situations.” A quality that the 1m84 goalkeeper, rather small for his position, has clearly not lost. No more than his desire to succeed at the highest level. Mundo Deportivo reveals this anecdote. Peña was the only one to show up for training this Wednesday, while Xavi had given a day off.