Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Part 2)

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21 Mar 2024

Marc-Andre ter Stegen
(Part 2)

Ter Stegen continued to play a vital role for Barcelona during the 2018-2019 season. He started for the club in the 2018 Supercopa de Espana, where Barcelona secured a 2–1 victory over Sevilla to claim the title. Ter Stegen played a pivotal role in the match by making a late penalty save, ensuring Barcelona's triumph in the competition.
Throughout the season, Ter Stegen performances contributed to Barcelona's success as they clinched their fourth La Liga title during his tenure at the club. Additionally, Barcelona reached the semi-finals of the 2018–19 UEFA Champions League, where they faced Liverpool. Despite a strong first-leg performance, Barcelona suffered a 4-0 defeat at Anfield in the second leg, leading to their elimination from the competition with a 4-3 aggregate score. Despite the disappointment, Ter Stegen's consistent displays demonstrated his importance to the team's campaigns both domestically and in Europe.

Ter Stegen achieved a remarkable feat by providing an assist to Luis Suarez for the opening goal in Barcelona's 2–0 away victory over Getafe. This assist made him the first Barcelona goalkeeper to provide an assist in La Liga in the 21st century, highlighting his exceptional ball-playing ability. Just over a week later, on 6 October, Ter Stegen celebrated his 200th appearance for Barcelona with a clean sheet in a commanding 4–0 home win against Sevilla, showcasing his consistency and importance to the team.

Continuing his trend of influential contributions, Ter Stegen provided another assist on 7 December, this time setting up Antoine Griezmann for the first goal in Barcelona's 5–2 home victory against Mallorca. Additionally, Ter Stegen demonstrated his prowess in goal by keeping five consecutive clean sheets for the first time in his Barcelona career, with the fifth shutout coming in a hard-fought 1–0 win over Athletic Bilbao on 23 June 2020.
However, Ter Stegen also faced challenges during the 2019–20 season. On 14 August 2020, he endured a difficult match as he allowed eight goals in Barcelona's shocking 2–8 defeat against eventual Champions League winners Bayern Munich in the quarter-final stage of the tournament held in Lisbon. Despite this setback, Ter Stegen overall contributions and performances throughout the season continued to underline his importance to the Barcelona team.

After undergoing successful knee surgery, Ter Stegen faced an extended period on the sidelines, missing several matches as he recuperated. During his absence, he was temporarily replaced by Neto in the Barcelona team.
Despite his injury setback, Ter Stegen's commitment to Barcelona remained unwavering. On 20 October, he reaffirmed his dedication to the club by signing a contract extension that would see him remain at Barcelona until 30 June 2025. This contract extension signaled the clubs faith in Ter Stegen's abilities, with a staggering buy-out clause of 500 million included in the agreement.

Upon his return to action, Ter Stegen continued to showcase his goalkeeping prowess. On 24 November, he reached a significant milestone by achieving his 100th clean sheet with Barcelona in a commanding 4–0 victory over Dynamo Kyiv in a Champions League group stage match held at the NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kyiv.
Ter Stegen contributions to Barcelona's success were further highlighted on 6 January 2021, when he made his 250th appearance for the club in all competitions during a hard-fought 3–2 league victory against Athletic Bilbao at the San Mamés Stadium. This milestone solidified Ter Stegen's place in Barcelona's history, as he became the goalkeeper with the fifth-most appearances for the club.

In addition to his individual achievements, Ter Stegen played a vital role in Barcelona triumph in the Copa del Rey. He helped lead the team to a resounding 4–0 victory against Athletic Bilbao in the final, securing the prestigious trophy for Barcelona. Ter Stegen's performances throughout the season once again underscored his importance to the club and his status as one of the world top goalkeepers.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen was honored with the prestigious role of Barcelona fourth captain, following the unexpected mid-season retirement of Gerard Pique. This appointment symbolized Ter Stegen's growing influence and leadership within the club.

During the season, Ter Stegen played a pivotal role in Barcelona triumph in La Liga, securing his fifth league title with the club. Leading a defensively resolute Barcelona side, Ter Stegen's performances between the posts were exemplary. His commanding presence and shot-stopping abilities contributed significantly to the team's success, as Barcelona conceded just 18 goals in 38 league appearances.
Ter Stegen outstanding contributions did not go unnoticed, as he was awarded the Zamora Trophy for the first time in his career. This prestigious award recognized him as the goalkeeper with the lowest goals-to-games ratio in La Liga. Furthermore, his remarkable tally of 26 clean sheets throughout the season equaled the longstanding La Liga record set by Paco Liano during the 1993-94 season, further solidifying Ter Stegen's status as one of the league's greatest goalkeepers.

Despite Barcelona's domestic success, their European campaign did not yield the desired results. The team was eliminated from the group stage of the Champions League and subsequently suffered disappointment in the Europa League knockout round play-offs, where they were defeated by Manchester United.
Overall, Ter Stegen's exceptional performances throughout the season showcased his immense talent and contribution to Barcelona's achievements, further establishing him as one of the premier goalkeepers in world football.

Marc-Andre ter Stegen's international career has been marked by his contributions to the German national team across various tournaments.
He made his debut for the senior team on 26 May 2012, in a friendly against Switzerland, although he did not make the final squad for UEFA Euro 2012. His early international appearances showcased his talent, including a notable penalty save against Lionel Messi in just his second match against Argentina.

Ter Stegen involvement continued as he was selected for Germany's squad for UEFA Euro 2016, serving as the backup to Manuel Neuer. Although he did not see playing time during the tournament, Germany reached the semi-finals.
His significant role in the German team came during the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup, where he started in most matches and played a crucial part in Germany tournament victory. He was particularly outstanding in the final against Chile, earning the Man of the Match award for his performance.