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BARCELONA

Ter Stegen faces his biggest test at the Santiago Bernabeu

The German shotstopper has taken over as Barcelona's number one and will play in the Santiago Bernabeú for the first time in El Clásico and faces a huge exam.

Update:
TOPSHOT - Barcelona's German goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen dives to stop a ball during the Spanish league footbal match RC Deportivo de la Coruna vs FC Barcelona at the Municipal de Riazor stadium in La Coruna on March 12, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / MIGU
MIGUEL RIOPAAFP

Amongst the Clásico debutants (at the Bernabeu) on Sunday is Marc André Ter Stegen, who will stand between the sticks in Chamartín for the first time in his career. The German goalkeeper played in the Copa del Rey and the Champions League during his first two years at the club and took over the reins fully this season.

The fierce competition between Claudio Bravo and Ter Stegen meant they had two goalkeepers in top form, aiming to outdo each other and the football team benefitted from that healthy competition. This season, however, with Jasper Cillessen being brought in as a back-up, Ter Stegen has struggled at times with consistency.

Marc-Andre Ter Stegen bends over during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg
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Marc-Andre Ter Stegen bends over during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second legLLUIS GENEAFP

Ter Stegen's biggest test

The 24-year-old arrives in Madrid at the tail end of an irregular season where he has conceded 40 goals in 40 games. He has played 30 league games and had 26 goals scored past him. He played one game in the Copa where he was beaten twice. In the Champions League, he conceded 12 with three against Manchester City, four against Paris Saint Germain and three in Turin against Juventus. Real Madrid have scored in each of their last 55 games and Ter Stegen has a huge test ahead of him on Sunday.