Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen is carried off the field on a stretcher after suffering an injury during a Spanish La Liga soccer match against Villarreal at La Ceramica stadium in Villarreal, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
MADRID — Barcelona continued its bright start to the Spanish league season but lost goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen to a serious knee injury on Sunday.
Barcelona beat hosts Villarreal 5-1 for their sixth consecutive win in the competition, but captain Ter Stegen had to leave the match on a stretcher just before half-time after twisting his right knee when he fell awkwardly while going up to cross a ball into the area.
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Barcelona president Joan Laporta said the injury was a ligament tear but further tests would be carried out. Ter Stegen left the stadium in an ambulance and left the hospital in a wheelchair, according to local media reports.
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“This injury saddens us. I think the injury will be very big, but we have to wait for more information,” Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said. “We have to accept it. It’s not easy. It was an accident. It’s very difficult.”
Players from both teams immediately called for medical help after Ter Stegen fell to the ground in pain. He was replaced by reserve goalkeeper Iñaki Pena.
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Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who missed most of last season with a similar injury, showed his support for Ter Stegen with a message on Instagram, saying he was sad to see his teammate leave the field like that and hoped he would recover soon.
It was the latest injury blow for Flick’s Barcelona, who are already without the likes of Dani Olmo, Frenkie de Jong, Gavi and Ronald Araujo, among others.
Robert Lewandowski scored twice in the first half and Raphinha added two after the interval, with Pablo Torre also scoring for the Catalan club in the second half. Lewandowski now has six goals in his first six games and leads the league in scoring.
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Ayoze Perez scored the only goal for the hosts in the 38th minute, with his side already trailing 2-0. Villarreal entered the round in fourth place, four points behind Barcelona.
Barcelona have outscored their opponents 22-5 in their first six games and have a four-point lead over Real Madrid, which beat Espanyol 4-1 on Saturday.
Capture of Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid missed the chance to draw with Barcelona by drawing 1-1 with Madrid rivals Rayo Vallecano.
Rayo took the lead through Isi Palazon in the 35th minute, and Conor Gallagher equalised for the visitors in the 49th minute.
Atlético were coming off three consecutive wins in all competitions.
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In other results on Sunday, Getafe and Leganes drew 1-1 and Athletic Bilbao beat Celta Vigo 3-1.
