The culés cannot count on the German goalkeeper for the upcoming clash against Atlético de Madrid.
If Barcelona hopes to mirror Girona and Real Madrid, they must topple Atlético de Madrid at Montjuïc, even though it comes with the heavy blow of losing their German shot-stopper, Marc-André Ter Stegen.
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Why isn’t Marc-André Ter Stegen playing today in FC Barcelona vs. Atlético de Madrid from LaLiga 2023-24 and who is Iñaki Peña, his replacement?
Ter Stegen sat out during Germany’s friendlies in the November 2023 international window. He also missed the trip to Rayo Vallecano for La Liga matchday 14 (1-1) and did not feature in the Champions League clash with Porto (2-1) on the fifth group stage day.
Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann announced during the latest international window that Ter Stegen would return to Barcelona due to back pain that limited training and playing capacity, a move that surprised many observers.
Injury is never welcome, especially when a goalkeeper of Ter Stegen’s stature anchors Barcelona’s squad. The German keeper played a pivotal role in last year’s league triumph, earning the Zamora Trophy and delivering crucial saves early this season as Barcelona faced tougher competition.
As the team faced a dip in form compared with the previous campaign, Ter Stegen remained a lynchpin, steadying the ship and helping to keep the La Liga schedule on track.
Who is Iñaki Peña, Ter Stegen’s replacement
Peña is set to reach his eighth appearance for Barça, having featured in five fixtures in the 2022/2023 season (not all 90 minutes): two league games, one Champions League, and three Copa del Rey matches. The most recent appearances include a 1-1 draw with Rayo last weekend and a contest against Porto in Barcelona.
Alicante-born, Peña joined Barça from Villarreal in 2012 as a youth. He instantly claimed a league title with the youth sides and continued to win trophies as he rose through the ranks, focusing on the Youth League during 2017/18.
His strong performances between the posts earned him a spot with Barça B in 2018/19. Since then, he has toggled between the second team and the first, stepping in for key cup ties. He spent a loan season at Galatasaray in early 2022 to gain minutes, returning to continue his rise, and began to feature for the first team more regularly in early 2023.
The 2022/23 season marked Peña’s first-team debut: on November 1, 2022, he started in the Champions League group stage clash at Viktoria Plzeň, finishing 2-4 away with 90 minutes played. His league bow arrived on May 23, 2023 at Valladolid, and he has since been cited by Barça as having strong handling under pressure, solid aerial reads, and the ability to drive plays out from the back with controlled distribution. Observers also note his calm leadership and patience when building from the goal.
Peña’s strengths, as highlighted by Barça’s official materials, include reliability in goal, commanding aerial situations, and calm decision-making with the ball at his feet. His ascent through the ranks underscores a clear pathway from youth to first-team responsibilities, with leadership traits that have become evident in training and match days.
Peña’s seven games with Barcelona
- His debut came in the Champions League on November 1, 2022, a 2-4 victory at Viktoria Plzeň, where he played the full 90 minutes.
- The second appearance occurred in the Copa del Rey on January 4, 2023, a 3–4 extra-time win over Intercity after a hard-fought match.
- Two weeks later, Peña played in a 0–5 league win over Ceuta.
- His first league appearance in a league fixture came as a 45-minute shift against Valladolid in a 3–1 loss on matchday 36, with Ter Stegen having started the season’s late fixtures already secured.
- The fifth appearance arrived on June 4, 2023, a 2–1 defeat to Celta, where Peña logged the final 27 minutes.
- The sixth appearance was a 1–1 draw at Vallecas, where he played all 90 minutes in late November 2023.
- The seventh came against Porto, a 2–1 win, with Peña again playing the full match in late November 2023.
Peña’s Barça statistics show a goals-conceded rate that hints at room for growth, with 9 goals conceded in 551 minutes across seven appearances, and one clean sheet, leaving a mix of decisive saves and learning opportunities as he continues to step into top-flight duties.
Note: This analysis is compiled from match reports and club briefings describing Peña’s development and role within Barcelona as of the latest season updates. (attribution: Goal)