21 best Champions League players of the season - ranked

Football on TV in India: Matches to watch & live stream

How Dortmund defied the odds to reach the UCL final

Claim Your Exclusive 1xBet Promo Code 2024: 1GOALIN for ₹66,000

Bellingham & the best debut seasons at Real Madrid - ranked

Bayern & Kompany plot bid for £35m Arsenal star

Man City battle Barca for Bayern star as Guardiola eyes reunion

Inter Miami issue Messi injury update for St Louis City

CR7 loses record! Piece of goalscoring history snatched away

USWNT ratings: Swanson and Davidson open Hayes era in style

Madrid are inevitable! Carvajal & Vini Jr the UCL heroes

Roque ready to make Barca U-turn after Flick's appointment

Man Utd snap up teenage wonderkid with record-breaking father

Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>German No.1 underwent back surgery in November</li><li>Initially expected to return in February</li><li>Reports suggest that he could be back by end of month</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Revealed: Marc-Andre ter Stegen revised injury timeline as Barcelona receive much-needed boost

Ter Stegen was supposed to be a long-term absentee for the Blaugrana, facing over two months on the sidelines after undergoing surgery to fix <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/barcelona-marc-andre-ter-stegen-germany-back-injury-xavi-sweating-goalkeeper-fitness/blt1f237c06920e4026" target="_blank">an ongoing back issue</a>. But the goalie has made progress in his return, and according to Spanish publication <a href="https://www.relevo.com/futbol/liga-primera/stegen-apunta-champions-ante-napoles-20240109123728-nt.html" target="_blank">Relevo</a>, he could be back before the end of the month.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">After intensive conversations with the medical team of the Club and various supporting experts, we decided to undergo a surgical procedure. The break obviously annoys me. It is the right and safe decision in order to come back in the best conditions for my Club <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBarcelona?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FCBarcelona</a> and… <a href="https://t.co/gpNbkO07y9">pic.twitter.com/gpNbkO07y9</a>— Marc ter Stegen (@mterstegen1) <a href="https://twitter.com/mterstegen1/status/1732092769722601513?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

WHAT HAPPENED?

Ter Stegen was facing a race against time to feature in Barca's round of 16 clash with Napoli in the Champions League. The first leg, set for February 21, was reportedly a rough target date, but it appears he will be back in the side well before that fixture.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The Barca boss has consistently shown faith in his side's depth to deal with the loss of his star goalie, and rubbished claims that the Blaugrana will dip into the market for depth at the position: "We have confidence in our players and Inaki Pena has been playing at a very high level."

WHAT XAVI SAID

Barca's attention now turns to the Spanish Super Cup, where they will take on Osasuna. A win would see the Blaugrana face one of Atletico Madrid or Real Madrid in the final, with a chance to defend their crown.

WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

Revealed: Marc-Andre ter Stegen revised injury timeline as Barcelona receive much-needed boost | Goal.com India

Reigning La Liga goalkeeper of the year Marc Andre ter Stegen is set to return ahead of schedule for an injury-riddled Barcelona