Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Barcelona's goalkeeper, will continue to be absent from protecting the Catalan club's squad due to injury, and will not participate in the Atletico Madrid match on Sunday.
The German goalkeeper suffered from back pain that forced him to leave his country's camp two weeks ago, and initial news indicated that he would return as soon as the international break ended.
However, as Xavi Hernandez announced in the press conference for the Atletico Madrid match, Stegen missed Barca’s training on Saturday and will not play in the Rojiblancos match, and his return has been postponed until next week.
This will be the third consecutive match in which Stegen will miss Barcelona, after he missed the match between Rayo Vallecano in the Spanish League and Porto in the Champions League.
In the absence of the 31-year-old, Xavi will resort to relying on his substitute goalkeeper, Iñaki Peña, who has already presented his credentials after shining specifically in the crucial Champions League match against Porto.
It remains to be noted that Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are equal with 31 points in third place, with the capital club having the advantage on goal difference.
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