Ter Stegen Suffers Complete Patella Tendon Rupture

Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen has suffered a complete rupture of the patella tendon in his right knee and will undergo surgery, sidelining him potentially for the rest of the season. The injury occurred during Barcelona's 5-1 victory over Villarreal, where he fell awkwardly while collecting a cross. Ter Stegen, who has previously had surgeries on the same knee, was stretchered off in visible pain and will be replaced by Inaki Pena in the interim. Barcelona manager Hansi Flick expressed his sadness over the incident, emphasizing Ter Stegen's importance to the team. The injury adds to Barcelona's existing injury woes, with several key players already sidelined. Ter Stegen’s absence is a significant blow for both Barcelona and the German national team, where he had recently become the first-choice goalkeeper.