With the chance to snag their first trophy of the season, albeit in a preseason match, Barcelona suffered an embarrassing 0-3 defeat against French Ligue 1 side AS Monaco in the Joan Gamper Cup, leaving Culers both stunned and disappointed.
Viewed as the overwhelming favorites entering the contest, the Catalans delivered a lackluster performance on their home pitch, with veteran goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen at the center of the dismay. His performance epitomized Barcelona’s evening on the whole—lethargic and uninspired.
The match remained goalless through the first half, with neither team posing much of a threat in front of goal. However, the deadlock was broken in the 50th minute after a costly mistake by Barcelona’s defense. A poor pass from Inigo Martínez to an oblivious Pau Cubarsi was intercepted by Lamine Camara, who capitalized on the error and slotted the ball past a helpless Ter Stegen. The German keeper was left flat-footed, and could only watch as the ball rolled into the net.
Things quickly went from bad to worse for Barcelona. Just eight minutes later, Breel Embolo added Monaco’s second goal, slipping a shot past a poorly positioned Ter Stegen. The German international seemed out of sorts throughout the match, constantly finding himself out of position and unable to make crucial saves. His ugly performance drew sharp criticism from supporters, who expected more from their experienced shot-stopper.
Ter Stegen's struggles aren't entirely a recent development. Last season, he caught flack for a string of underwhelming performances that raised concerns about his declining form. Despite hopes that his familiarity with manager Hansi Flick—who coached the German national team from 2021-2023—would translate into a resurgence, Ter Stegen’s performance against Monaco casts even more doubt about Barcelona's 32-year-old keeper.
While youngsters Ander Astralaga and Iñaki Peña are waiting in the wings, Barcelona will, for now, have to rely on Ter Stegen to stabilize the backline and regain his form. With the new season on the horizon, pressure is on Ter Stegen to prove that he can still be the reliable presence Barcelona needs between the posts.