Why is Ter Stegen not playing for Barcelona against Antwerp in UCL?

Barcelona top Group H on the final night of action of this year’s Champions League group stage but still need at least one point to make sure they end the phase as leaders. Xavi’s team conclude the round away at Antwerp - debutants in the tournament, bottom of the group and without a win.

Tasked with guarding Barcelona’s net at Bosuilstadion this evening will be second-choice goalkeeper Iñaki Peña, who has stepped up to take over from Marc-André Ter Stegen. The 24-year-old will remain in a starting role with the first team until Ter Stegen returns in the New Year. He has made four appearances for Barça this season - he played the last three in LaLiga games (Rayo, Atlético and Girona) as well as the matchday 5 game against Porto. During that time, Peña has kept just one clean sheet - in the 1-0 win over Atleti.

Why is Ter Stegen absent?

Ter Stegen had been struggling with discomfort to his lower back for some time. The diagnosis was sciatica - pressure on the sciatic nerve which causes pain. After weighing up the various different options, the player, along with Barcelona’s medical staff, decided that surgery was the best option. He has made 17 competitive appearances this season, conceding 15 goals and keeping eight clean sheets.

French consultant Amélie Léglise performed the operation on Ter Stegen’s back at Sports Clinic Merignacin in Bordeaux, France at the end of last week. Léglise confirmed that the German keeper underwent an endoscopy. “We did it by endoscopy with a camera. It is an extremely precise technique that reduces the risk of the operation to a minimum,” she told SER Catalunya’s Què T’hi Jugues programme.

What games will Ter Stegen miss?

Doctor Léglise estimates that Ter Stegen will be unable to play competitively for a period of around two months which means he might be able to return in the second week of February. With any luck, he will be back to full fitness for the first leg of the Last 16 ties which will be played on 13/14/20/21 February 2024.

Who are Barcelona’s substitute keepers?

Ander Astralaga and Diego Kochen are both in the squad for the Antwerp game. Astralaga, 19, is first-choice with Barça Atlètic and Xavi’s third-choice keeper. He first entered the first team squad list in January 2023 for the away game against Girona but has yet to make his debut with the senior side.

Diego Kochen is an American goalkeeper who plays for Barcelona’s Under-19s. Born in Miami (his father is Venezualan and his mother is Peruvian), he started out at the Weston Academy before arriving at La Masia in 2019. He has watched several first team games from the bench this season but not debuted at senior level. He has been called up a number of times for the United States Under-17s.