Overview

• Marc-André ter Stegen will start for Barcelona in Saturday's La Liga match against Valladolid, marking his first appearance since a severe knee injury in September 2024.
• Hansi Flick emphasizes this rotation is a one-time decision to rest Wojciech Szczesny before the Champions League semifinal in Milan.
• Ter Stegen’s return comes after 223 days of recovery from a patellar tendon rupture sustained against Villarreal last season.
• Barcelona plans broader squad rotations for the Valladolid match, using the low-pressure fixture to manage player fitness during a congested schedule.
• Despite Ter Stegen’s return, Szczesny remains the first-choice goalkeeper for the Champions League, with Flick evaluating future lineup changes on a case-by-case basis.