Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has confirmed that Marc-André ter Stegen, despite returning to fitness and playing well in the 2-1 LaLiga win over Real Valladolid, will not start against Inter Milan in the crucial Champions League semi-final second leg. Instead, Wojciech Szczesny—who reversed his retirement earlier this season—will be in goal for both the Inter clash and the El Clasico against Real Madrid.
Flick emphasized that while Ter Stegen showed solid form on Saturday, Szczesny remains his preferred choice for the high-stakes fixtures ahead. This decision underscores Flick’s trust in the experienced Polish keeper, who has impressed since returning to top-flight action.
Barcelona's comeback win at Valladolid, thanks to second-half goals from Raphinha and Fermin Lopez, kept them firmly atop the LaLiga table. Despite making nine changes to rest key players ahead of the defining week, Flick praised the team's resilience and individual performances—particularly that of Ter Stegen, defenders Araujo and Christensen, and the impact substitutes.
Flick also dropped a hint that Fermin Lopez might be in contention to start against Inter, calling him a versatile player who is “always close to the starting XI.”
Barcelona will head into Tuesday’s clash with Inter trailing 1-0 from the first leg and looking to overturn the deficit at home. The El Clasico, coming right after, could also prove decisive in the LaLiga title race.
