The Barcelona goalkeeper has been a standout this season, allowing only nine goals in LaLiga after playing 28 matches, meeting the minimum required to be considered for the Zamora Trophy. Across the campaign, his consistency and calm presence between the posts have become a defining feature of Xavi Hernandez’s defensive philosophy, underscoring Barcelona’s stability at the back.
What makes this Barcelona defense so reliable isn’t just the individual brilliance of Ter Stegen. It is the collective effort of a backline that includes players like Jules Koundé, Ronald Araujo, and Andreas Christensen, who have all contributed to a fortified wall that opponents have found hard to breach. Yet a name worth highlighting remains clear and central: ter Stegen. His performances have anchored the team, providing a platform on which the rest of the squad can build their pressing game and territorial control.
You can subscribe to DAZN from €18.99 per month to watch La Liga 2022-2023 here. The German stopper has recovered his peak form and is widely regarded as one of the top performers in the squad assembled by coach Xavi Hernandez. After eight seasons with Barcelona, this could be the year Ter Stegen finally clinches the Zamora Trophy, the accolade reserved for the league’s best goalkeeper, a prize that has eluded him despite a long and storied career with the club.
Ter Stegen has conceded only nine goals over 28 appearances, a remarkable tally that places him at the heart of a record-setting season for Barcelona. The defense has managed to keep opponents from breaking through in the majority of matches, with clean sheets tallying an impressive figure that underscores the team’s resilience. This level of solidity reduces the pressure on the attacking unit and allows the coach to deploy a more aggressive lineup with the confidence that the goal is well protected.
When evaluating goalkeeping metrics, Ter Stegen’s average goals conceded per game sits at a striking 0.33, a figure that trails behind his strongest rivals in the race for the Zamora Trophy. Competitors like Jan Oblak register around 0.68 goals per game, Thibaut Courtois about 0.86, and Álex Remiro near 0.96. Such comparisons highlight the gap between Ter Stegen and the rest, illustrating why many observers view him as the leading candidate for the prize this season. The consistency demonstrated throughout the campaign serves as a testament to his quality and to Barcelona’s defensive ethos, which has become a hallmark of the club’s approach in recent years.
Beyond the raw numbers, the intangible impact of Ter Stegen’s form is evident in the way the team plays. The goalkeeper’s distribution, decision-making under pressure, and ability to read the game align with the broader strategic aims of Barcelona, creating a sense of certainty for teammates and a challenge for opponents who must break down a well-drilled unit. This season’s defensive discipline, coupled with Ter Stegen’s individual excellence, positions Barcelona to finish strongly and potentially seal the Zamora Trophy as a fitting capstone to a year of measured progress and consistent performance.
Reference: Goal