Analyzing Marc Andre ter Stegen’s Performances in Big Games for Barcelona

After a less-than-stellar performance against Real Madrid, Marc-Andre ter Stegen is facing criticism as one of Barcelona’s weakest performers in significant matches over the past few years. To support this notion, fans have cited the German goalkeeper’s displays in crucial European clashes.

Let’s take a trip down memory lane to revisit some of these key encounters:

1. Juventus 3-0 Barcelona (2017): In this Champions League fixture, Barca was eliminated, with ter Stegen facing criticism for errors in the first two goals conceded.
2. Roma 3-0 Barcelona: Ter Stegen couldn’t stop a tricky shot but almost saved a penalty. He made one significant save but faced blame for poor decision-making.
3. Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona: Unlucky at the first goal, he showed some subpar goalkeeping for the second. While not entirely at fault, fans considered his performance subpar.
4. Barcelona 2-8 Bayern Munich: Although he conceded multiple goals, ter Stegen wasn’t the worst performer on the pitch that night, given Barcelona’s woeful defense.
5. Barcelona 1-4 PSG: Ter Stegen made several crucial saves, with few blaming him for the defeat. However, he was partly at fault for two of PSG’s goals.
6. Barcelona 2-3 Eintracht Frankfurt: While he made four saves, fans believed he could have done better in key moments, and it was considered a subpar performance.

It’s essential to remember that ter Stegen’s struggles in significant matches often stem from the broader defensive issues at Barcelona. Blaming him alone doesn’t account for the years of playing with a challenging backline, including Nelson Semedo, Gerard Pique, Clement Lenglet, and Jordi Alba.