Only Messi remains unreachable
Ter Stegen makes a bad mistake in a particular game
April 30, 2024, 7:48 a.m
Thanks to Robert Lewandowski’s three goals, FC Barcelona wins the championship game against FC Valencia. The game is special for keeper Marc-André ter Stegen, but he also makes a mistake. The other person sees the red card.
National goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen made a nasty faux pas in FC Barcelona’s 4:2 (1:2) win against FC Valencia. A day before his 32nd birthday, ter Stegen rushed out of his goal in the 27th minute but didn’t hit the ball properly. Hugo Duro was able to effortlessly slot into the empty goal to make it 1-1. Robert Lewandowski turned the game around after a 1-2 deficit (49th/82nd/90th+3). With the win, Barça maintained second place in La Liga. League leaders Real Madrid are already eleven points ahead with five games to go before the end of the season.
For ter Stegen, the encounter was a special one despite his dropout. With 408 appearances, he is the foreign player with the second most games for Barça, the former Mönchengladbacher catching up with the Brazilian Dani Alves. Only Argentinian world champion Lionel Messi played more games as a foreigner for Barça, and with 778 appearances he is probably uncatchable.
After Fermin Lopez took the lead (22nd), Barça initially fell behind thanks to Duro and Pepelu (38th, penalty kick). Because Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili also made a mistake and was shown red for a handball outside the penalty area (45th + 4), the Catalans came back: Lewandowski first scored twice after a corner from İlkay Gündoğan before scoring the final point with a free kick.
Real Madrid already played on Friday and successfully completed its dress rehearsal before the semi-final first leg in the Champions League at FC Bayern. The record champions also won 1-0 (1-0) at Real Sociedad San Sebastián with a better B team. The decisive goal was scored by top Turkish talent Arda Güler in the 29th minute. Coach Carlo Ancelotti rested numerous regulars, including DFB players Antonio Rüdiger and Toni Kroos. Defender Rüdiger came on as a substitute in the second half. Midfielder Kroos, like the ailing offensive star Jude Bellingham, did not play at all.