Why is Marc-Andre Ter Stegen not playing for Barcelona today against Getafe in LaLiga?

Marc-Andre Ter Stegen will not play for Barcelona against Getafe today, Wednesday 25 September, as the goalkeeper suffered a serious knee injury in the side’s last Game that will see him out for the rest of the season.

The incident came in added time of the first half, when a simple jump from the goalkeeper saw him land awkwardly and the player was taken off on a stretcher; tests carried out after the Game confirmed the worst: a torn patellar tendon in his right knee.

SEE ALSO: Hansi Flick forced into changes against Getafe

How long is Ter Stegen out for?

This type of injury can take anywhere from 7 months to 9 months recovery time, with Ter Stegen now unlikely to play any part of the Barcelona season that had started in a hugely promising manner, seeing them win 6 Games from 6 in the league.

Concerns regarding injuries at Barcelona have been steadily growing this season: just a few days ago, Marc Bernal was diagnosed with a ruptured ACL on his full Barça debut, and as such Flick has had to resort to alternatives to find a solution to his young midfield talent, who many saw as the perfect fit for the manager’s system.

The defensive duo join the already injured Frenkie, Gavi, Christensen, Fermín, Araújo and Olmo in the physio room as they look to recover as soon as possible, although as mentioned, action this season after such a serious injury is all but impossible.

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Despite the fact that Barcelona already have Iñaki Peña ready and waiting to fill Ter Stegen’s boots, the club are allowed to sign a replacement despite being outside the recently closed summer transfer window. Any player, however, must arrive as a free agent, and has to have terminated his contract with his previous club before deadline day.

That has left a few interesting names on the shortlist, including former barcelona goalkeeper Jordi Masip, former Arsenal and Juventus stopper Wojciech Szczesny, and ex-Real Madrid man Keylor Navas. For now, however, it’s Peña in goal and Getafe are up next for the blaugrana.