Barcelona achieved its sixth consecutive victory in La Liga by beating Villarreal 5-1. However, the match took a serious turn when goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen suffered a significant knee injury.
Ter Stegen Injury Update
Ter Stegen left the game on a stretcher just before halftime after twisting his knee awkwardly while trying to catch a cross. Barcelona’s president, Joan Laporta, mentioned that the injury looked like a torn ligament, but further tests would confirm the extent of the damage. Local reports indicated that Ter Stegen was taken to the hospital in an ambulance and later left in a wheelchair.
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick expressed concern about the injury, stating, “This injury makes us sad. I think it will be serious, but we need to wait for more information. It was an accident, and it’s tough.”
Support from Teammates and Rivals
Players from both teams quickly called for medical help when Ter Stegen fell. He was replaced by backup goalkeeper Iñaki Peña. Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois, who had a similar injury last season, showed his support for Ter Stegen on social media, expressing his hope for a speedy recovery.
Barcelona’s Strong Performance
Despite the injury setback, Barcelona’s players shone on the field. Robert Lewandowski scored two goals in the first half, while Raphinha added two more in the second half, and Pablo Torre also found the net. Lewandowski now leads the league with six goals in six matches. Villarreal’s Ayoze Pérez scored their only goal in the 38th minute, but they were already 2-0 down at that point.
League Standings
Barcelona has dominated its first six matches, outscoring opponents 22-5. They sit four points ahead of Real Madrid, which won against Espanyol 4-1. In other matches, Atletico Madrid missed a chance to keep up with Barcelona after a 1-1 draw against Rayo Vallecano, while Getafe and Leganes also drew 1-1. Athletic Bilbao triumphed over Celta Vigo with a score of 3-1.
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