Ter Stegen throws the bolt

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Barça’s German goalkeeper was decisive for the victory over Mallorca, surpassing his 500-minute record without giving in

Ter Stegen is back. The Monchengladbach goalkeeper was decisive this Saturday against Real Mallorca at the Son Moix stadium with up to three valuable saves that propped up Xavi’s men and enabled him to improve his unbeaten record since landing in Barcelona. Barça, with him in goal, have already played 534 minutes without conceding a single goal, a guarantee for a team that aspires to fight for all the titles and has decided to start the house from scratch and the throw the bolt back.

“The win is more important than the record, especially in this kind of competition. These triumphs give you the conviction and assurance to engage in a positive dynamic. It gives us life because we keep the pressure up,” assured Ter Stegen after surpassing his best record of minutes without conceding a goal since landing at Camp Nou in 2014. He is one of the main ones responsible for the fact that Xavi’s team has barely conceded a goal in seven games and no one has conceded fewer goals in the league so far.

Against Mallorca, the German goalkeeper did so in a match in which he once again showed that the doubts surrounding his figure over the past year are a thing of the past. The best version of Ter Stegen is back and can be seen at its best. Another solution was to go out with the ball from behind. On the few occasions when the vermilion turned up the pressure, this year he staged an unprecedented defense in a commanding voice and resolutely intervened when it was his turn with up to three key interventions. He saved a shot from distance from Jaume Costa in the first half, denied a cross from Antonio Sánchez and reappeared in the final stretch to close the game for a performance by Dani Rodríguez.

There were three valuable stops that made up for Lewandowski’s lone goal in the first half and allowed Barca to continue at the cruising pace it has taken in recent days. The Catalans have won six in a row and part of the blame lies with a goalkeeper who has also managed to win back his coach. “Marc is at a great moment and making the difference,” said Xavi when asked about the level the German showed at the start of the season.

Ter Stegen’s great moment against Mallorca was translated into a personal best that has been in force for three seasons. In the 2019-2020 season, Mönchedgladbach’s played 500 consecutive minutes without a goal against Real Sociedad, Mallorca, Leganés, Sevilla and Athletic. That brand has already been watered down. 534 minutes have passed since Alexander Isak beat him in the Reale Arena. Since then, 84 minutes have passed since that meeting and 90 minutes more against Valladolid, Sevilla, Cadiz, Elche and Mallorca, all of whom are unable to overcome the wall the Germany international has erected.

The other good news in defense of Barcelona was that Piqué and Jordi Alba were back in the starting line-up due to the injury plague and they were not out of place. “They are at an excellent level,” said Xavi, knowing that at this point in the season the participation of both could be decisive in the marathon of competitions that lie ahead until the arrival of the World Cup in Qatar.

Piqué, who was whistled by Son Moix throughout the game, was confident in the ball when it came to breaking lines and kept Muriqi at bay in the air game, while Alba, who returned from international engagements with Spain, made the transitions from Mallorca, but in the attack he fell victim to the funnel prepared by Javier Aguirre. Both scratched at a good level and join a Barça that wants to fight for everything

Source: La Verdad

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