Marc-André ter Stegen has taken the first step in his recovery following the serious patellar tendon injury he sustained on September 22 during Barcelona’s match against Villarreal. The German goalkeeper has been spotted training again on the pitch at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, under the watchful eye of FC Barcelona’s physiotherapists.

The incident that sidelined Ter Stegen occurred when he attempted to catch a ball at La Cerámica stadium. Upon landing, he suffered a patellar displacement, alarming both his teammates and Villarreal players. He was immediately substituted, fully aware of the severity of the injury, which was later confirmed as a serious injury to the patellar tendon in his right leg.

Ter Stegen wasted no time and decided to undergo surgery. Unlike other procedures, this operation did not require a waiting period for the swelling to subside, allowing for a quicker intervention in hopes of accelerating his recovery process. However, no definitive return date has been set, and it seems unlikely he will play again this season.

Although the estimated recovery time remains uncertain, the German goalkeeper has expressed optimism about the possibility of returning before the end of the campaign. Recent images of him training on the grass have boosted confidence in his progress, but he still has a long road ahead to be match-ready.

In the meantime, Wojciech Szczesny is expected to take over as the starting goalkeeper during Ter Stegen’s absence, and he is likely to be available for the team’s next match against Sevilla.