Lionel Messi led the way for Barcelona against Chelsea, but it's the man between the posts who is making the difference. Ter Stegen hasn't conceded a goal for 312 minutes and is fast becoming Germany's new number one.
Image: picture-alliance/nordphoto/Alterphotos/nph
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It's hard to believe that Marc-André ter Stegen is in his fourth season at Barcelona. Yet at the beginning of this month, the 26-year-old goalkeeper made his 128th appearance for the club — one more than he ever made at Borussia Mönchengladbach.
The struggles he had in his first two seasons at Barcelona, when he split goalkeeping duties with Claudio Bravo, seem a distant memory and the German international has proven himself to be much more than the number one in town.
Ter Stegen has 22 clean sheets in 35 games in Spain's top division and the Champions League this season. Before the first leg against Chelsea, he had saved 23 of the last 24 shots on target. In short, he has been sensational.
Many Barcelona fans now consider him the most underrated keeper in Europe, but continued fine displays in the Champions League — a tournament he won in his first season with the club — is putting him firmly in the top bracket of keepers in the world.
Marc-André ter Stegen was impressive at the Confederations CupImage: Reuters/M. Shemetov
Making the big saves
While Manuel Neuer continues his recovery, the rest of the goalkeeping world continues to excel. The likes of Jan Oblak, David de Gea and Thibaut Courtois are the names so often associated with the "best between the posts," but ter Stegen's name is not heard as often. In a Barcelona team with enough attacking stars to make video-gameplayers squeal, it is even less surprising ter Stegen's name is lower down the list.
The German is a keeper who makes the big saves. In the second leg of the semifinal against Bayern on his way to his first Champions League victory in 2015, ter Stegen made a remarkable reflex save on a header from fellow countryman Thomas Müller. He was a wall in the second El Clasico against Real Madrid last year. He was man of the match in last year's Confederations Cup final, finally banishing those once ugly memories with the German national team.
Mr. Löw, how will you win the World Cup again?
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But what is most notable is ter Stegen's footwork. England goalkeeper Joe Hart said in an interview with London-based newspaper The Times in February that ter Stegen was "phenomenal" and that he had never seen anyone "so calm with distribution."
With Neuer out, the concern over whether Germany lack a playmaker between the sticks is no longer a valid fear. Ter Stegen has it covered. In fact, Barca legend Xavi, who played with ter Stegen in 2014-15, told German newspaper Die Welt in January he considers his former teammate to already be at the same level as Manuel Neuer.
Ter Stegen has learned the language and recently moved into the city center, where locals can sometimes catch him darting around the city on his electric scooter. He has found and made a new home for himself, even become an idol — Hertha Berlin's US keeper Jonathan Klinsmann is a keen admirer.
What next? A second Champions League title? A World Cup win? Whatever it is, ter Stegen's name will be part of it.
Winners and Losers in Germany's World Cup qualification
After not dropping a single point in their first nine matches, Germany have cruised to another World Cup qualification. Who has made himself indispensable and who has struggled? Here are DW's winners and losers.
Image: Getty Images/B. Mendes
Winner: Timo Werner
No player has risen faster in Germany's team than RB Leipzig's Timo Werner. He received his first cap back in March and now appears to be Joachim Löw's main man up front, despite missing the latest match through injury. Germany have already won a tournament - the Confederations Cup - with Werner playing up front. Can they win another in 2018?
Image: picture-alliance/GES/M. Ibo
Loser: Mario Gomez
He had a renaissance at last year's European Championship – two goals in four games – to the point where Germany fell apart when he got injured. But Gomez has played just twice in World Cup qualifying. Euro 2016 may have been the last hurrah for a striker who once again appears to have found himself down the pecking order.
Image: Reuters/F. Bensch
Winner: Lars Stindl
Several Bundesliga stars got an opportunity at the Confederations Cup, but Lars Stindl was the one who made the most of it. The Gladbach attacker received his first cap in June, and now Löw is choosing him over some more established players. With the depth Löw has in attacking midfield, Stindl may not make the World Cup squad, but he has made a strong case for his inclusion.
Image: Reuters/G. Dukor
Loser: Andre Schürrle
He assisted the winning goal in the World Cup final, but now André Schürrle can barely get on the field, for club or country. As the Dortmund forward has struggled with his form, several others have passed him on Germany's depth chart. He got two goals and an assist against Azerbaijan in March, but he looks unlikely to win another cap anytime soon.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/M. Becker
Winner: Leon Goretzka
Germany has a plethora of central midfielders yet Leon Goretzka has still found a way to break into the squad. The Schalke midfielder was arguably Germany's best player at the Confederations Cup, scoring three goals in four starts. His spot may not be completely secure if Ilkay Gündogan and Julian Weigl return strongly from injury, but he has certainly made the decision tougher for Löw.
Image: picture-alliance/GES/M. Gilliar
Loser: Julian Brandt
After a strong performance at last year's Olympics and a solid season with Leverkusen, Julian Brandt seemed poised for an extended run in Germany's first team. But it wasn't to be. He made just one start at the Confederations Cup and played poorly in the World Cup qualifier against Czech Republic last month. Considering Germany's depth, he may need to wait a little longer for his World Cup debut.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/T. Eisenhuth
Winner: Marc-Andre ter Stegen
The back-up goalkeeper spot is no longer up for grabs. Marc-André ter Stegen has secured his place behind Manuel Neuer after another solid performance against the Czech Republic. He was named as starter after just two matches at the Confed Cup, a tournament where Löw was supposedly going to try out several players. In truth ter Stegen has made the number two spot his own.
Image: Reuters/G. Dukor
Losers: Kevin Trapp and Bernd Leno
With Neuer injured, 2017 was the year these two were to solidify their standing with Germany. Neither of them have. Bernd Leno (right) made two big errors in his only Confed Cup start. Kevin Trapp (left) got his first cap in June, but a lack of first team football at Paris Saint-Germain may be his downfall. The pair's issues mean the third goalkeeper spot in the World Cup squad up for grabs.
His performances with Germany have been far from perfect and he may not live up to the €35 million ($40.3 million) price tag placed on him when he signed for Chelsea in July but Rüdiger he seems to have Löw's backing. He has played in seven of Germany's 10 matches in 2017 and although he may not be in the country's top tier of central defenders, he appears to be in the mix if injury strikes.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/M. Becker
Losers: Niklas Süle and Jonathan Tah
A year ago, the two seemed to be Germany's defensive future - Jonathan Tah made the Euro 2016 squad while Niklas Süle (left) played at the Olympics. But neither has made a big enough recent impact to warrant a spot in the World Cup squad. Tah has had injury problems but even Matthias Ginter, who was not good enough for Dortmund, seems to be ahead of the youngsters.
Image: picture-alliance/AA/A. Nasyrov
Somewhere in between: Thomas Müller
He has scored five goals in World Cup qualifying, so it may seem harsh to call him a loser. But Müller hasn't moved past his Euro 2016 woes, so he's not a winner either. His recent decline with Bayern Munich doesn't seem to have carried over too much in the national team, but he's still not the Müller Germany fans know. Hopefully he becomes a winner in 2018, or Germany may not be winning anything.
